## Deuteronomy Chapter 16

###### Deuteronomy 16:1
[Deuteronomy 16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:1)

שָׁמוֹר֙ אֶת־חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָאָבִ֔יב וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ פֶּ֔סַח לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֞י בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִ֗יב הוֹצִ֨יאֲךָ֜ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם לָֽיְלָה׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Take heed of the month of spring, when you will celebrate *Pesach* for Adonoy your God; for in the month of spring Adonoy, your God, took you out from Egypt at night.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Observe the month of Aviv, and keep the passover to the Lord thy God: for in the month of Aviv the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Miżrayim by night.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Observe the month of aviv [(Before its coming, observe that it be fit for aviv (spring), so that the omer meal-offering may be brought upon it; and if not, intercalate the year)], and make Pesach to the L-rd your G-d. For in the month of aviv the L-rd your G-d took you out of Egypt, [Pharaoh having acceded] at night [to your going].


###### Deuteronomy 16:2
[Deuteronomy 16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:2)

וְזָבַ֥חְתָּ פֶּ֛סַח לַיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ צֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֑ר בַּמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן שְׁמ֖וֹ שָֽׁם׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You shall slaughter the *pesach*-offering to Adonoy, your God, flocks of ruminants and cattle in the place that Adonoy chooses to house His Presence there.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover to the Lord thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which
				the Lord shall choose to place his name there.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And you shall sacrifice a Pesach offering to the L-rd your G-d, sheep [viz. (Exodus 12:5)] and cattle [shall you slaughter as a festival offering (chagigah), so that if a very large company is numbered over the (eating of the) pesach, a chagigah is brought so that it (the pesach) may be eaten in satiety)], in the place where the L-rd shall choose to repose His name.


###### Deuteronomy 16:3
[Deuteronomy 16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:3)

לֹא־תֹאכַ֤ל עָלָיו֙ חָמֵ֔ץ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֛ים תֹּֽאכַל־עָלָ֥יו מַצּ֖וֹת לֶ֣חֶם עֹ֑נִי כִּ֣י בְחִפָּז֗וֹן יָצָ֙אתָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לְמַ֣עַן תִּזְכֹּ֗ר אֶת־י֤וֹם צֵֽאתְךָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Do not eat *chometz* on it; seven days are you to eat on it *matzos,* bread of anguish; since in haste you left the land of Egypt, so that you remember the day of your exodus from the land of Egypt all the days of your life.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread with it, the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Miżrayim in haste: that thou mayst remember the day when thou camest out of the land of Miżrayim all the days of thy life.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You shall not eat upon it chametz; seven days shall you eat upon it matzoth, the bread [which reminds you] of [the] affliction [that you underwent in Egypt], for in haste [the haste of the Egyptians] did you leave the land of Egypt, [and the dough had not time to leaven, and this (the matzoh) will serve as a reminder], so that you remember [by eating the pesach and the matzoh] the day of your leaving the land of Egypt all the days of your life.


###### Deuteronomy 16:4
[Deuteronomy 16:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:4)

וְלֹֽא־יֵרָאֶ֨ה לְךָ֥ שְׂאֹ֛ר בְּכׇל־גְּבֻלְךָ֖ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וְלֹא־יָלִ֣ין מִן־הַבָּשָׂ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּזְבַּ֥ח בָּעֶ֛רֶב בַּיּ֥וֹם הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן לַבֹּֽקֶר׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
And no sourdough of yours may be seen in all of your boundary seven days; and none of the flesh may remain overnight which you slaughtered towards the evening of the first day—until morning.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And there shall be no leaven seen with thee in all thy border for seven days; nor shall any thing of the meat, which thou dost sacrifice on the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And there shall not be seen unto you leaven in all of your border for seven days, and there shall not remain of the flesh [of the Pesach offering] that you sacrifice towards evening on the first day [the fourteenth of Nissan] until the morning.


###### Deuteronomy 16:5
[Deuteronomy 16:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:5)

לֹ֥א תוּכַ֖ל לִזְבֹּ֣חַ אֶת־הַפָּ֑סַח בְּאַחַ֣ד שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You are forbidden to slaughter the *pesach* in any of your cities that Adonoy, your God, is giving you.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou mayst not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God gives thee:

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You may not sacrifice the Pesach offering in one of your gates that the L-rd your G-d gives to you.


###### Deuteronomy 16:6
[Deuteronomy 16:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:6)

כִּ֠י אִֽם־אֶל־הַמָּק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ לְשַׁכֵּ֣ן שְׁמ֔וֹ שָׁ֛ם תִּזְבַּ֥ח אֶת־הַפֶּ֖סַח בָּעָ֑רֶב כְּב֣וֹא הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ מוֹעֵ֖ד צֵֽאתְךָ֥ מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Solely in the place that Adonoy, your God, chooses to house His Presence, there will you slaughter the *pesach* towards the afternoon, at sunset, at the time you left Egypt.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
but only at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season when thou camest out of Miżrayim.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
But in the place where the L-rd your G-d chooses to repose His name, there shall you sacrifice the Pesach offering in the evening [from the sixth hour on]; as the sun sets [shall you eat it, and] at the time of your going out of Egypt (i.e., in the morning) [if there is any flesh left over, you shall burn it (i.e., take it to the burning site for burning after the festival)].


###### Deuteronomy 16:7
[Deuteronomy 16:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:7)

וּבִשַּׁלְתָּ֙ וְאָ֣כַלְתָּ֔ בַּמָּק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ בּ֑וֹ וּפָנִ֣יתָ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהָלַכְתָּ֖ לְאֹהָלֶֽיךָ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You shall cook [it] and eat [it] in the place that Adonoy, your God, chooses; and you may depart in the morning and go to your residence.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go to thy tents.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And you shall cook [i.e., roast it] and eat it in the place that the L-rd your G-d has chosen, and you shall betake yourselves in the morning [of the second day (whence it is seen that they must spend the night there)], and you shall go to your tents.


###### Deuteronomy 16:8
[Deuteronomy 16:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:8)

שֵׁ֥שֶׁת יָמִ֖ים תֹּאכַ֣ל מַצּ֑וֹת וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י עֲצֶ֙רֶת֙ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה מְלָאכָֽה׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
For six days you shall eat *matzos,* and on the seventh day, is one of withdrawal for the sake of Adonoy, your God, do not do work.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Six days shall you eat matzoth [i.e., You may eat matzoth of the new grain (after the omer offering on the second day) and you may eat it seven days from the old grain], and on the seventh day is a holding back [from labor] for the L-rd your G-d; you shall do no work.


###### Deuteronomy 16:9
[Deuteronomy 16:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:9)

שִׁבְעָ֥ה שָׁבֻעֹ֖ת תִּסְפׇּר־לָ֑ךְ מֵהָחֵ֤ל חֶרְמֵשׁ֙ בַּקָּמָ֔ה תָּחֵ֣ל לִסְפֹּ֔ר שִׁבְעָ֖ה שָׁבֻעֽוֹת׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Seven weeks count for yourself; from the time the sickle begins felling the standing grain, begin to count seven weeks.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Seven weeks shalt thou number to thee: from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn shalt thou commence to number seven weeks.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Seven weeks shall you count for yourself; from the beginning of the sickle in the standing corn [i.e., from the cutting of the omer, which is the beginning of the harvest] shall you begin to count seven weeks.


###### Deuteronomy 16:10
[Deuteronomy 16:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:10)

וְעָשִׂ֜יתָ חַ֤ג שָׁבֻעוֹת֙ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ מִסַּ֛ת נִדְבַ֥ת יָדְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתֵּ֑ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יְבָרֶכְךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You are to celebrate the festival of *Shovuos* for Adonoy, your God, to the fullness of your open-handed gift that you can give, as Adonoy, your God, has blessed you.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks to the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thy hand, which thou shalt give, according as the Lord thy God has blessed thee:

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And you shall make a festival of weeks (shavuoth) to the L-rd your G-d, the sufficiency of the offering of your hand, which you shall give as the L-rd your G-d shall bless you [i.e., In accordance with the amplitude of His blessing, bring peace-offerings of joy and invite guests for the repast.]


###### Deuteronomy 16:11
[Deuteronomy 16:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:11)

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֞ לִפְנֵ֣י**׀** יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ אַתָּ֨ה וּבִנְךָ֣ וּבִתֶּ֘ךָ֮ וְעַבְדְּךָ֣ וַאֲמָתֶ֒ךָ֒ וְהַלֵּוִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ וְהַגֵּ֛ר וְהַיָּת֥וֹם וְהָאַלְמָנָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבֶּ֑ךָ בַּמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִבְחַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן שְׁמ֖וֹ שָֽׁם׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You are to rejoice in the presence of Adonoy, your God—you, and your son and your daughter, and your male slave and your female slave, and the Levite who is in your city, and the proselyte, and the orphan and the widow who are among you—in the place that Adonoy, your God, chooses to house His Presence there.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite who is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God has chosen as the residence of his name.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And you shall rejoice before the L-rd your G-d: you — your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your maid-servant — the Levite that is in your gates, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow who are in your midst [(If you cause My four to rejoice, I shall cause your four to rejoice)], in the place where the L-rd your G-d shall choose to repose His name.


###### Deuteronomy 16:12
[Deuteronomy 16:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:12)

וְזָ֣כַרְתָּ֔ כִּי־עֶ֥בֶד הָיִ֖יתָ בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣ וְעָשִׂ֔יתָ אֶת־הַֽחֻקִּ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃{פ}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Remember that you were a slave in Egypt; you are to guard and celebrate these statutes.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Miżrayim: therefore thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall keep and observe these statutes [i.e., it is to this end that I redeemed you].


###### Deuteronomy 16:13
[Deuteronomy 16:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:13)

חַ֧ג הַסֻּכֹּ֛ת תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לְךָ֖ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים בְּאׇ֨סְפְּךָ֔ מִֽגׇּרְנְךָ֖ וּמִיִּקְבֶֽךָ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
The festival of *Sukkos* celebrate for yourself seven days, when you harvest your threshing-floor and your wine-press.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt observe the feast of booths seven days, after thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The festival of succoth (booths) shall you make for yourself, seven days, when [i.e., at the time that] you gather in [to your house the summer fruits] from your threshing floor and from your winepress.


###### Deuteronomy 16:14
[Deuteronomy 16:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:14)

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֖ בְּחַגֶּ֑ךָ אַתָּ֨ה וּבִנְךָ֤ וּבִתֶּ֙ךָ֙ וְעַבְדְּךָ֣ וַאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וְהַלֵּוִ֗י וְהַגֵּ֛ר וְהַיָּת֥וֹם וְהָאַלְמָנָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You are to rejoice during your festival—you and your son and your daughter, and your male slave and your female slave, and the Levite and the proselyte, and the orphan and the widow who are in your city.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And you shall rejoice in your festival: you — your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your maid-servant — the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, who are in your gates.


###### Deuteronomy 16:15
[Deuteronomy 16:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:15)

שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֗ים תָּחֹג֙ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בַּמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֣י יְבָרֶכְךָ֞ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ בְּכֹ֤ל תְּבוּאָֽתְךָ֙ וּבְכֹל֙ מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֶ֔יךָ וְהָיִ֖יתָ אַ֥ךְ שָׂמֵֽחַ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Seven days are you to be festive for Adonoy, your God, in the place Adonoy chooses, for Adonoy, your God, will bless you in all your produce and in all your endeavors; and you shall experience pure joy.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast to the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose: because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy produce, and in all the work of thy hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Seven days shall you rejoice before the L-rd your G-d in the place that the L-rd chooses. For the L-rd your G-d will bless you in all of your produce and in all to which you put your hand, and you will be only happy.


###### Deuteronomy 16:16
[Deuteronomy 16:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:16)

שָׁל֣וֹשׁ פְּעָמִ֣ים׀בַּשָּׁנָ֡ה יֵרָאֶ֨ה כׇל־זְכוּרְךָ֜ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י**׀** יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ בַּמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִבְחָ֔ר בְּחַ֧ג הַמַּצּ֛וֹת וּבְחַ֥ג הַשָּׁבֻע֖וֹת וּבְחַ֣ג הַסֻּכּ֑וֹת וְלֹ֧א יֵרָאֶ֛ה אֶת־פְּנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה רֵיקָֽם׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Three times a year are all your males to be seen in the presence of Adonoy, your God, in the place that He chooses—in the festival of Matzos, and on the festival of Shovuos, and on the festival of Sukkos—and he shall not appear in the presence of Adonoy empty-handed.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Three times a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty:

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Three times a year shall appear each of your males in the presence of the L-rd your G-d in the place that He chooses: on the festival of matzoth, and on the festival of Shavuoth, and on the festival of Succoth. And he shall not appear in the presence of the L-rd empty-handed, [but he shall bring burnt-offerings of "appearance" and the peace-offerings of the festival].


###### Deuteronomy 16:17
[Deuteronomy 16:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:17)

אִ֖ישׁ כְּמַתְּנַ֣ת יָד֑וֹ כְּבִרְכַּ֛ת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Everyone according to the gift appropriate to his means, according to the blessing of Adonoy, your God, that He gave you.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of
				the Lord thy God which he has given thee.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Each according to the gift of his hand [(If one has much food and much property, he brings many burnt-offerings and peace-offerings)], according to the blessing of the L-rd your G-d that He has given you.


###### Deuteronomy 16:18
[Deuteronomy 16:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:18)

שֹׁפְטִ֣ים וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗ים תִּֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם מִשְׁפַּט־צֶֽדֶק׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Judges and police officers you shall appoint for yourself in all of your cities that Adonoy, your God, is giving you for your tribes; who will judge the people righteous justice.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God gives thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Judges and officers, [who enforce the rulings of the judges with "rod and strap"] shall you appoint for yourselves in all of your gates [i.e., in every city] that the L-rd your G-d gives you for your tribes [(Judges are appointed for each tribe and in each city)], and they shall judge the people a righteous judgment [i.e., Appoint expert, righteous judges, who will judge righteously.]


###### Deuteronomy 16:19
[Deuteronomy 16:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:19)

לֹא־תַטֶּ֣ה מִשְׁפָּ֔ט לֹ֥א תַכִּ֖יר פָּנִ֑ים וְלֹא־תִקַּ֣ח שֹׁ֔חַד כִּ֣י הַשֹּׁ֗חַד יְעַוֵּר֙ עֵינֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף דִּבְרֵ֥י צַדִּיקִֽם׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Do not pervert justice; do not display favoritism; and do not accept bribery, for bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts words that are just.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a bribe: for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You shall not pervert judgment, and you shall not play favorites, [even during the pleading — an exhortation to the judge not to be firm with one and lenient with the other, e.g., making one stand and allowing the other to sit], and you shall not take a bribe [even to judge righteously]; for a bribe blinds the eyes of the sages [(Once the judge takes a bribe from someone it is impossible for him not to seek arguments in his favor)], and it distorts righteous words [i.e., true judgments].


###### Deuteronomy 16:20
[Deuteronomy 16:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:20)

צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Pursue absolute justice so that you may live and inherit the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Justice, only justice shalt thou pursue, that thou mayst live, and inherit the land which the Lord thy God gives thee.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Righteousness, righteousness shall you pursue [Seek out the finest beth-din], so that you live and inherit the land that the L-rd your G-d gives to you. [The appointment of fit judges serves to sustain Israel and to settle them in their land.]


###### Deuteronomy 16:21
[Deuteronomy 16:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:21)

לֹֽא־תִטַּ֥ע לְךָ֛ אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה כׇּל־עֵ֑ץ אֵ֗צֶל מִזְבַּ֛ח יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Do not plant an Asherah for yourself [or] any tree near the altar of Adonoy, your God, that you will make for yourself.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt not plant thee an ashera of any tree near the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You shall not plant for yourself an asheirah (a tree devoted to idolatry) [(One is liable from the time of planting)], any tree near the altar of the L-rd your G-d that you shall make for yourself [(an exhortation against planting a tree or building a house on the Temple Mount)].


###### Deuteronomy 16:22
[Deuteronomy 16:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Deuteronomy/r/16:22)

וְלֹֽא־תָקִ֥ים לְךָ֖ מַצֵּבָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂנֵ֖א יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
And do not erect for yourself a monument that Adonoy, your God, detests.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Neither shalt thou set thee up any pillar; which the Lord thy God hates.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And you shall not raise up for yourself a monument [one stone, on which to sacrifice (even to the L-rd)], which the L-rd your G-d hates, [it having become an institution of idolatry].