Loading…

Exodus 23:2–4

2 “You shall not follow 1the masses in doing evil, nor shall you 2testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after 1a multitude in order to apervert justice;

3 anor shall you 1be partial to a poor man in his dispute.

4 aIf you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.

Read more Explain verse



Exodus 23:2–4 — The New International Version (NIV)

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit.

“If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.

Exodus 23:2–4 — English Standard Version (ESV)

You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.

“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him.

Exodus 23:2–4 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.

Exodus 23:2–4 — New Living Translation (NLT)

“You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.

“If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner.

Exodus 23:2–4 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.

“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.

Exodus 23:2–4 — New Century Version (NCV)

“You must not do wrong just because everyone else is doing it. If you are a witness in court, you must not ruin a fair trial. You must not tell lies just because everyone else is. If a poor person is in court, you must not take his side just because he is poor.

“If you see your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering away, you must return it to him.

Exodus 23:2–4 — American Standard Version (ASV)

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to wrest justice: neither shalt thou favor a poor man in his cause.

If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.

Exodus 23:2–4 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

Thou shalt not follow the multitude for evil; neither shalt thou answer in a cause, to go after the multitude to pervert judgment. Neither shalt thou favour a poor man in his cause. —If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt certainly bring it back to him.

Exodus 23:2–4 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Never follow a crowd in doing wrong. When you testify in court, don’t side with the majority to pervert justice. Never give special favors to poor people in court. 

“Whenever you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering loose, be sure to take it back to him.

Exodus 23:2–4 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

“You must not follow a crowd in wrongdoing. Do not testify in a lawsuit and go along with a crowd to pervert justice. Do not show favoritism to a poor person in his lawsuit.

“If you come across your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.

Exodus 23:2–4 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit.

When you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.

Exodus 23:2–4 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

You will not follow a majority for evil, and you will not testify concerning a legal dispute to turn aside after a majority to pervert justice. You will not be partial to a powerless person in his legal dispute.

“ ‘If you come upon the ox of your enemy or his donkey going astray, you will certainly bring it back to him.

Exodus 23:2–4 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

“Do not follow the crowd when they do what is wrong. When you are a witness in court, do not turn what is right into wrong. Do not go along with the crowd. Do not show favor to a poor person in court.

“Suppose you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering away. Then be sure to take it back to him.


A service of Logos Bible Software