Proverbs 24:24

The one who says to the guilty, ¹  “You are innocent,” ²  peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce ³  him.

Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"—peoples will curse him and nations denounce him.

He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;

A judge who says to the wicked, "You are innocent," will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.

Whoever whitewashes the wicked gets a black mark in the history books,

He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.

Whoever says to the wicked, "You are innocent," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations;

He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him.

The one who says to the guilty, ¹  “You are innocent,” ²  peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce ³  him.

¹ tn The word means “wicked; guilty” or “criminal”; the contrast could be “wicked – righteous” (cf. KJV, ASV, NAB, NASB) or “innocent – guilty” (cf. NIV, TEV, CEV). Since this line follows the statement about showing partiality in judgment, it involves a forensic setting. Thus the statement describes one who calls a guilty person innocent or acquitted.

² tn Or “righteous”; the same Hebrew word may be translated either “innocent” or “righteous” depending on the context.

³ tn The verb means “to be indignant.” It can be used within the range of “have indignation,” meaning “loathe” or “abhor,” or express indignation, meaning “denounce” or “curse.” In this passage, in collocation with the previous term “curse,” the latter is intended (cf. NAB, NIV, NLT).