Deuteronomy 25:1

Justice

If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

² And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

³ Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.
KJV: If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
WEB: If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment and the judges judge them, then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked.
ASV: If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and [the judges] judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked;
DARBY: If there be a controversy between men, and they resort to judgment, and they judge [their case]; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
BLB: If there is a dispute between men, and they come to the court, they are to be judged, and the righteous shall be declared righteous, and the wicked condemned.

ÅB: Når det er trette mellom menn, og de treder fram for retten, og deres sak blir pådømt, så skal en dømme den som har rett, å ha rett, og den som har urett, å ha urett.
OTB: Når det er en tvist mellom individer, skal de bringe det til retten, og dommerne vil avgjøre saken, erklære den uskyldige rettferdig og den skyldige fordømt.
B1930: Når det er trette mellem menn, og de treder frem for retten, og deres sak blir pådømt, så skal en dømme den som har rett, å ha rett, og den som har urett, å ha urett.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Proverbs 17:15
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 1:16–17
And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 17:8–9
If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;
Read in context
Deuteronomy 19:17–19
Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
Read in context
Malachi 3:18
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Read in context
Ezekiel 44:24
And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
Read in context
Exodus 23:6–7
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Read in context
Psalms 82:2–4
How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
Read in context