Exodus 23:7

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 

Ex 23:1; Ex 34:7; Le 19:11; De 19:16-21; De 27:25; Job 22:23; Pr 4:14,15; Pr 17:15; Isa 33:15; Na 1:3; Lu 3:14; Ro 1:18; Ro 2:5,6; Eph 4:25; 1Th 5:22

¹ tn Or “stay away from,” or “have nothing to do with.”

² tn Heb “a false matter,” this expression in this context would have to be a case in law that was false or that could only be won by falsehood.

³ tn The two clauses probably should be related: the getting involved in the false charge could lead to the death of an innocent person (so, e.g., Naboth in 1 Kgs 21:10-13).

⁴ sn God will not declare right the one who is in the wrong. Society should also be consistent, but it cannot see the intents and motives, as God can.