20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—

a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?

21 The wicked band together against the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.

20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee,

Which frameth mischief by a law?

21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,

And condemn the innocent blood.

20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side—

leaders whose decrees permit injustice?

21 They gang up against the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.

20 Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,

Have fellowship with You?

21 They gather together against the life of the righteous,

And condemn innocent blood.

20 Crooked leaders cannot be your friends.

They use the law to cause suffering.

21 They join forces against people who do right

and sentence to death the innocent.

20 Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee,

Which frameth mischief by statute?

21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,

And condemn the innocent blood.

20 Shall the throne of wickedness be united to thee, which frameth mischief into a law? 21 They band together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.

20 Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things 

able to be your partners? 

21 They join forces to take the lives of righteous people. 

They condemn innocent people to death. 

20 Can a corrupt throne—

one that creates trouble by law—

become Your ally?

21 They band together against the life of the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.

20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you,

those who contrive mischief by statute?

21 They band together against the life of the righteous,

and condemn the innocent to death.

20 Can there be allied with you a throne of destruction,

one that forms trouble based on statute?

21 They band together against the life of the righteous,

and declare the blameless guilty of blood.

20 Can you have anything to do with rulers who aren’t fair?

Can those who make laws that cause suffering be friends of yours?

21 They join together against those who do what is right.

They sentence to death those who aren’t guilty of doing anything wrong.

20 Can a throne of destruction be allied with You,

One which devises mischief by decree?

21 They band themselves together against the life of the righteous

And condemn the innocent to death.