Leviticus 19:16

You must not go about as a slanderer among your people. ¹  You must not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake. ²  I am the Lord.

"‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbour’s life. I am the LORD.

‘You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.

"Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. "Do not try to get ahead at the cost of your neighbor’s life, for I am the LORD.

"Don't spread gossip and rumors. "Don't just stand by when your neighbor's life is in danger. I am GOD.

Do not go about saying untrue things among your people, or take away the life of your neighbour by false witness: I am the Lord.

You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

‘You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

You must not go about as a slanderer among your people. ¹  You must not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake. ²  I am the Lord.

¹ tn The term רָכִיל (rakhil) is traditionally rendered “slanderer” here (so NASB, NIV, NRSV; see also J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 304, 316), but the exact meaning is uncertain (see the discussion in B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 129). It is sometimes related to I רָכַל (“to go about as a trader [or “merchant”]”; BDB 940 s.v. רָכַל), and taken to refer to cutthroat business dealings, but there may be a II רָכַל, the meaning of which is dubious (HALOT 1237 s.v. II *רכל). Some would render it “to go about as a spy.”

² tn Heb “You shall not stand on the blood of your neighbor.” This part of the verse is also difficult to interpret. The rendering here suggests that one will not allow a neighbor to be victimized, whether in court (cf. v. 15) or in any other situation (see the discussion in B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 129).