Then the Levitical priests ¹  will approach (for the Lord your God has chosen them to serve him and to pronounce blessings in his name, ²  and to decide ³  every judicial verdict ⁴ )

“How much less, ¹  then, can I answer him ²  and choose my words ³  to argue ⁴  with ⁵  him! ⁶ 

Now an argument started among the disciples ¹  as to which of them might be ²  the greatest.

Jephthah said to them, “My people and I were entangled in controversy with the Ammonites. ¹  I asked for your help, but you did not deliver me from their power. ² 

Hear the Lord’s accusation, you mountains, you enduring foundations of the earth! For the Lord has a case against his people; he has a dispute with Israel! ¹ 

When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate ¹  with them, the church ²  appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with ³  the apostles and elders in Jerusalem ⁴  about this point of disagreement. ⁵ 

I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians? ¹ 

There ¹  an upright person could present his case ²  before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge.

A quick-tempered person ¹  stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger ²  calms ³  a quarrel. ⁴ 

Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person ¹  to kindle strife. ² 

So I want the men ¹  to pray ²  in every place, lifting up holy hands ³  without anger or dispute.

“‘In a controversy they will act as judges; ¹  they will judge according to my ordinances. They will keep my laws and my statutes regarding all my appointed festivals and will observe ²  my Sabbaths.

The Lord also has a covenant lawsuit ¹  against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

Then the Pharisees ¹  came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for ²  a sign from heaven ³  to test him.

They will judge ¹  the people under normal circumstances, ²  and every difficult case ³  they will bring to you, but every small case ⁴  they themselves will judge, so that ⁵  you may make it easier for yourself, ⁶  and they will bear the burden ⁷  with you.

If a matter is too difficult for you to judge – bloodshed, ¹  legal claim, ²  or assault ³  – matters of controversy in your villages ⁴  – you must leave there and go up to the place the Lord your God chooses. ⁵ 

When you searched through all my goods, did you find anything that belonged to you? ¹  Set it here before my relatives and yours, ²  and let them settle the dispute between the two of us! ³ 

I have not done you wrong, ¹  but you are doing wrong ²  by attacking me. May the Lord, the Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites!’”

Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me ¹  a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint ²  could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

She said, “In the past they would always say, ‘Let them inquire in Abel,’ and that is how they settled things.