Isaiah 5:23
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
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
- who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
- KJV
- Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
- WEB
- who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent!
- ASV
- that justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
- DARBY
- who justify the wicked for a bribe, and turn away the righteousness of the righteous from them!
- BLB
- those declaring right the wicked for a bribe, and justice for the righteous ones they turn aside from him.
- ÅB
- de som for gave gir rett til den som har urett, og tar retten fra de rettferdige!
- OTB
- som frikjenner den skyldige for bestikkelser, og nekter rettferdighet til den uskyldige.
- B1930
- de som for gave gir rett til den som har urett, og tar retten fra de rettferdige!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 10:2
To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
Read in contextPsalms 94:21
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Read in contextJames 5:6
Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
Read in contextProverbs 17:15
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Read in contextProverbs 31:4–5
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Read in contextMicah 7:3
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
Read in contextMicah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
Read in contextIsaiah 1:23
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Read in context