Proverbs 18:5

5 It is not good to ¹be partial to^[a] the wicked or to ²deprive the righteous of justice.

Proverbs 18:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 18:5

[It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked
For a judge to have respect to a wicked man in a cause before him, and to favour him, because he is a rich man, or a relation, or he has received some kindness from him; none of these things should have any influence upon him to overthrow the righteous in judgment:
though he may be a poor man and a stranger, and to whom the judge is under no private and personal obligation; yet justice ought to be done without any respect to persons; to do otherwise is not only not good, but very bad, very sinful and criminal; it is contrary to law and justice; it is doing injury to men, and is repugnant to the will of God, and offensive to him, ( Leviticus 19:15 ) .

Proverbs 18:5 In-Context

3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.

6 A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.

7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Cross References

• 1. 18:5 ch. 24:23; 28:21; Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:17; Ps. 82:2
• 2. 18:5 See ch. 17:15

Footnotes

• [a] 18:5 Hebrew 'to lift the face of'