Do Not Pervert the Justice of the Needy

"You shall not pervert the judgment of your needy one" (Exodus 23:6). Why do I need this? Has it not already been said, "You shall not pervert judgment" (Deuteronomy 16:19), whether of poor or rich? What then does "You shall not pervert the judgment of your needy one" teach? This is one who is needy in commandments [poor in good deeds]. You should not say: he is wicked, his presumption is that he lies, and this other man's presumption is that he does not lie; let me pervert the judgment against him. Therefore Scripture teaches, "You shall not pervert the judgment of your needy one." Another interpretation: "the judgment of your needy one" you may not pervert, but you may incline the judgment of another. From here they said: an Israelite and a gentile who came to judgment — if Israel has the right under our law, we judge for him by our law and tell him, "This is our law"; and if Israel has the right under the laws of the nations, we judge for him by their laws and tell them, "This is your law."