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Exodus 23:6-9

 

שמות כג:ו-ט

Original Text:

לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפַּט אֶבְיֹנְךָ בְּרִיבוֹ: מִדְּבַר שֶׁקֶר תִּרְחָק וְנָקִי וְצַדִּיק אַל תַּהֲרֹג כִּי לֹא אַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע: וְשֹׁחַד לֹא תִקָּח כִּי הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר פִּקְחִים וִיסַלֵּף דִּבְרֵי צַדִּיקִים: וְגֵר לֹא תִלְחָץ וְאַתֶּם יְדַעְתֶּם אֶת נֶפֶשׁ הַגֵּר כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם:

Translation:

You shall not subvert the rights of your needy in their disputes. Keep far from a false charge; do not bring death on those who are innocent and in the right, for I will not acquit the wrongdoer. Do not take bribes, for bribes blind the clear-sighted and upset the pleas of those who are in the right. You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.
[JPS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. Why does the text group these commandments together? What do all groups who are mentioned have in common?
2. What are the values that emerge from these verses?
3. Does our society today reflect these commandments? How can we improve our societal standards to better reflect these values?

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    Related Texts:
    Exodus 23:6-9
    Related Sourcesheets:Civil Rights: What Should I Do?, Intention and Action: A Text Study on Responding to Global Hunger

    Submitted By

    Sarah Margles

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