Exodus 23:6

6 non declinabis in iudicio pauperis

Exodus 23:6 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 23:6

Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
] As the poor man was not to be favoured when his cause was bad through an affected pity for him as a poor man, so his judgment was not to be wrested or perverted, when his cause was good, because of his poverty; which is too often the case, through the power of rich men, and the prevalence of their gifts and bribes, and to curry favour with them: the phrase, "thy poor", is very emphatic, and intended to engage judges to regard them, as being of the same flesh and blood with them, of the same nation and religion; and who were particularly committed to their care and protection under God, who is the Judge and protector of the poor, of the widow and the fatherless.

Exodus 23:6 In-Context

4 si occurreris bovi inimici tui aut asino erranti reduc ad eu
5 si videris asinum odientis te iacere sub onere non pertransibis sed sublevabis cum eo
6 non declinabis in iudicio pauperis
7 mendacium fugies insontem et iustum non occides quia aversor impium
8 nec accipias munera quae excaecant etiam prudentes et subvertunt verba iustorum
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.