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Isaiah 5:23

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

They declare guilty people innocent when they're paid to do so, and they deny justice to people who are actually in the right!

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is condemning corrupt judges and leaders who take bribes to protect wrongdoers while punishing innocent people.

📚 Historical Context

In the 8th century BC, the prophet Isaiah was speaking to the people of Judah during a time of widespread moral and social corruption under kings like Uzziah and Ahaz. He condemned the leaders and judges who accepted bribes to acquit the guilty and deny justice to the innocent, as part of a broader oracle warning of God's judgment on Israel's unfaithfulness. This verse highlights the societal injustices that characterized Judah's elite, reflecting a culture where wealth and power often twisted the legal system.

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