משלי פרק כד:כג-כה
גַּם אֵלֶּה לַחֲכָמִים הַכֵּר פָּנִים בְּמִשְׁפָּט בַּל טוֹב:
(כד) אֹמֵר לְרָשָׁע צַדִּיק אָתָּה יִקְּבֻהוּ עַמִּים יִזְעָמוּהוּ לְאֻמִּים:
(כה) וְלַמּוֹכִיחִים יִנְעָם וַעֲלֵיהֶם תָּבוֹא בִרְכַּת טוֹב:
These also are by the sages: It is not right to be partial in judgment. One who says to the guilty, "You are innocent," shall be cursed by peoples, damned by nations; but it shall go well with them who decide justly; blessings of good things will light upon them.
[JPS translation, edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. How do we ensure justice in our society?
2. Is there any difference between exonerating the guilty and imprisoning the innocent? Is one worse than the other?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)