Bible Verses About Rulers

ADONAI said to Avram, "Know this for certain: your descendants will be foreigners in a land that is not theirs. They will be slaves and held in oppression there four hundred years.

But I will also judge that nation, the one that makes them slaves. Afterwards, they will leave with many possessions.

May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be lord over your kinsmen, let your mother's descendants bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!"

Yitz'chak answered 'Esav, "Look, I have made him your lord, I have given him all his kinsmen as servants, and I have given him grain and wine to sustain him. What else is there that I can do for you, my son?"

"Therefore, Pharaoh should look for a man both discreet and wise to put in charge of the land of Egypt.

Yes, the cry of the people of Isra'el has come to me, and I have seen how terribly the Egyptians oppress them.

Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me; I judge between one person and another, and I explain to them God's laws and teachings."

You should also teach them the laws and the teachings, and show them how to live their lives and what work they should do.

But you should choose from among all the people competent men who are God-fearing, honest and incorruptible to be their leaders, in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Normally, they will settle the people's disputes. They should bring you the difficult cases; but ordinary matters they should decide themselves. In this way, they will make it easier for you and share the load with you.

On the other hand, don't favor a person's lawsuit simply because he is poor.

"Do not deny anyone justice in his lawsuit simply because he is poor.

Keep away from fraud, and do not cause the death of the innocent and righteous; for I will not justify the wicked.

You are not to receive a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clearsighted and subverts the cause of the righteous.

"You are not to oppress a foreigner, for you know how a foreigner feels, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

"'Do not be unjust in judging - show neither partiality to the poor nor deference to the mighty, but with justice judge your neighbor.

You are to apply the same standard of judgment to the foreigner as to the citizen, because I am ADONAI your God."

"Let ADONAI, God of the spirits of all human beings, appoint a man to be over the community,

to go out and come in ahead of them, to lead them out and bring them in, so that ADONAI's community will not be like sheep without a shepherd."

Pick for yourselves from each of your tribes men who are wise, understanding and knowledgeable; and I will make them heads over you.'

At that time I commissioned your judges, 'Hear the cases that arise between your brothers; and judge fairly between a man and his brother, and the foreigner who is with him.

You are not to show favoritism when judging, but give equal attention to the small and to the great. No matter how a person presents himself, don't be afraid of him; because the decision is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me and I will hear it.'

"You are to appoint judges and officers for all your gates [in the cities] ADONAI your God is giving you, tribe by tribe; and they are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

You are not to distort justice or show favoritism, and you are not to accept a bribe, for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of even the upright.

Justice, only justice, you must pursue; so that you will live and inherit the land ADONAI your God is giving you.