Sir Matthew Hale’s Bible Verses on Judging (1668)

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Some 1668 entries from Sir Matthew Hale’s diary contain reflections on judging. These reflections are preceded by Hale’s transcription of selected Bible verses from Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and 2 Chronicles. The handwritten pages of this diary are in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University. These were transcribed by Dr. Maija Jansson and published at 37 The Journal of Legal History 201 (1988). Here are the verses:

Exod. 23: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8
[2] Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.
[3] Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
[6] Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of the poor in his cause.
[7] Keep thee far from a false matter; the innocent and righteous slay thou not, for I will not justify the wicked.
[8] And thou shalt take no gift, for the gift blindeth the wise and perverteth the words of the righteous.

Deut. 16: 18, 19, 20
[18] Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee throughout thy tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
[19] Thou shalt not wrest judgment, thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift, for a gift doth blind the eyes and perverteth the words of the righteous.
[20] But that which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

2 Chron. 19: 5, 6, 7, etc.
[5] And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city.
[6] And he said to the judges, take heed what ye do; for ye judge not for man but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment.
[7] Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, take heed and do it for there is no iniquity in the Lord, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
[9] And he charged them, this shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
[11] Deal courageously and the Lord shall be with the good.

Exod. 18: 21, [22]
[21] Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as fear God, men of truth hating covetuousness.
[22] And let them judge the people, etc.

Levit. 19:15
[15] Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honor the person of the might, but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.

Deut. 13:14
[14] Then shalt thou inquiry and make search and ask and behold if it be truth and the thing be certain, that such abomination is wrought among you.

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Sir Matthew Hale’s Bible Verses on Judging (1668)

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