But the expert, ¹  wanting to justify ²  himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

If you have any words, ¹  reply to me; speak, for I want to justify you. ² 

Since God is one, ¹  he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, ¹  saying, “All the nations ²  will be blessed in you.” ³ 

They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff, they ignore the just cause of the innocent. ¹ 

But ¹  Jesus ²  said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes, ³  but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized ⁴  among men is utterly detestable ⁵  in God’s sight.

Keep your distance ¹  from a false charge ²  – do not kill the innocent and the righteous, ³  for I will not justify the wicked. ⁴ 

Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. ¹  “My servant ²  will acquit many, ³  for he carried their sins. ⁴ 

If controversy arises between people, ¹  they should go to court for judgment. When the judges ²  hear the case, they shall exonerate ³  the innocent but condemn ⁴  the guilty.

For ¹  we are in danger of being charged with rioting ²  today, since there is no cause we can give to explain ³  this disorderly gathering.” ⁴ 

I will never ¹  declare that you three ²  are in the right; until I die, I will not set aside my integrity!

I do not condone the use of rigged scales, or a bag of deceptive weights. ¹ 

Although I am innocent, ¹  my mouth ²  would condemn me; ³  although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse. ⁴ 

Would you indeed annul ¹  my justice? Would you declare me guilty so that you might be right?

All of a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, ¹  but the Lord evaluates ²  the motives. ³ 

So then the Jewish leaders ¹  responded, ²  “What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?” ³ 

and by this one ¹  everyone who believes is justified ²  from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify ³  you. ⁴ 

So now, bear your disgrace, because you have given your sisters reason to justify their behavior. ¹  Because the sins you have committed were more abominable than those of your sisters; they have become more righteous than you. So now, be ashamed and bear the disgrace of making your sisters appear righteous.

Samaria has not committed half the sins you have; you have done more abominable deeds than they did. ¹  You have made your sisters appear righteous with all the abominable things you have done.

Judah replied, “What can we say ¹  to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves? ²  God has exposed the sin of your servants! ³  We are now my lord’s slaves, we and the one in whose possession the cup was found.”