Proverbs 18:5

5 It's not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent.

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 arrives, shame's not far behind; contempt for life is contemptible.

4 Many words rush along like rivers in flood, but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.

5 It's not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent.

6 The words of a fool start fights; do him a favor and gag him.

7 Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words.