27 Bible Verses about Magistrates

They will not be learned nor understand, but walk on still in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

O Lemuel, give kings no wine, give kings and princes no strong drink;

Judges and officers thou shalt make thee in all thy cities, which the LORD thy God giveth thee throughout thy tribes: And let them judge the people righteously.

Moreover, seek out, among all the people, men of activity which fear God; and men that are true and hate covetousness: and make them heads over the people, captains over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty, and over ten.

Bring therefore men of wisdom and of understanding and expert, known among your tribes, that I may make them rulers over you.'

These are also the sayings of the wise. It is not good to have respect of any person in judgment.

and set him upon the best chariot that he had, save one. And they cried before him "Abrech!" And that Pharaoh had made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

And Samuel said to all the people, "There! See ye whom the LORD hath chosen, and how there is none like him among all the company?" And all the people shouted and said, "God save the king!"

And the king returned and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal for to go against the king to convey him over Jordan.

And the eighth day he sent the people away. And they blessed the king and went unto their tents joyous and glad in heart for all the goodness that the LORD had showed unto David his servant and to Israel his people.

and said unto the king Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, God save thy life forever.

And I charged your judges the same time, saying, 'Hear your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him.

Judges and officers thou shalt make thee in all thy cities, which the LORD thy God giveth thee throughout thy tribes: And let them judge the people righteously.

When there is strife between men, let them come unto the law, and let the judges justify the righteous and condemn the trespasser.

Wherefore, let the fear of the LORD be with you, and take heed and do it. For there is no unrighteousness in the LORD our God nor regarding of persons, nor taking of rewards."

The God of Israel spake unto me, and the strength of Israel said, 'He that beareth rule over men, he that ruleth justly in the fear of God,

Thou shalt take no gifts, for gifts blind the seeing and pervert the words of the righteous.

Wrest not the law, nor know any person, neither take any reward: for gifts blind the wise and pervert the words of the righteous.

See that ye know no man in judgment: but hear the small as well as the great and be afraid of no man, for the judgment is God's. And the cause that is too hard for you, bring unto me and I will hear it.'

Thou shalt not hinder the right of the poor that are among you in their suit.

When Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but that more business was made, he took water and washed his hands before the people saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person: see ye thereto."

Then let he Barabbas loose unto them, and scourged Jesus, and delivered him to be crucified.

For he is the minister of God, for thy wealth. But and if thou do evil, then fear: for he beareth not a sword for nought; but is the minister of God, to take vengeance on them that do evil.

other unto rulers, as unto them that are sent of him, for the punishment of evil doers: but for the laud of them that well do.

For he is the minister of God, for thy wealth. But and if thou do evil, then fear: for he beareth not a sword for nought; but is the minister of God, to take vengeance on them that do evil.

And even for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God's ministers, serving for the same purpose.

Moreover, seek out, among all the people, men of activity which fear God; and men that are true and hate covetousness: and make them heads over the people, captains over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty, and over ten.

But thou Ezra - after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand - set thou judges and arbiters, to judge all the people that is beyond the Jordan, even all such as know the law of thy God: and them that know it not, those see that ye teach.

"For I delivered the poor when he cried, and the fatherless that wanted help.

I was a father unto the poor, and when I knew not their cause, I sought it out diligently.

and said to the judges, "Take heed what ye do: for ye be not judges in the law of man, but of the LORD - which is with you in the words of the law.

Behold, here I am. Answer me before the LORD and before his anointed, whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Whom have I done wrong to? Or whom have I oppressed? And of whose hand have I received any bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith? And I will restore it you again." And they said, "Thou hast done us no wrong, nor oppressed us; neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand."

Then came there two women that were harlots unto the king and stood before him. And the one of them said, "Oh my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. And I was delivered of a child with her in the said house. And the third day after that I was delivered, she was delivered also: we two being together and no stranger with us in the house save we two alone. read more.
And this woman's child died in a night, for she had overlaid it. And then she arose at midnight and took my son from my side, while thine handmaid slept and laid it in her bosom, and put her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose up in the morning to give my child suck: see, it was dead. But when I had looked more diligently upon it in the morning: Behold, it was not my son which I did bear." And the other woman said, "It is not so: But the living is my son, and the dead thine." And she said again, "Thou sayest untrue, for the dead is thy son, and the living mine." And thus they pleaded before the king. Then said the king, "The one sayeth, 'This that is alive is my son, and the dead is thine.' And the other sayeth, 'Nay: But thy son is the dead and the live child is mine.'" Then said the king, "Bring me a sword." And they brought a sword before the king. And then the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give the one half to the one, and the other to the other." Then spake the woman whose son lived, unto the king - for her motherly heart was kindled with pity over her son - and said, "I beseech thee, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it." And the other said, "It shall be neither mine nor thine, but divide it." Then the king answered and said, "Give her the living child and slay it not, for she is the mother thereof." And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged and feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

I exhort therefore that above all things, prayers, supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be had for all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority that we may live a quiet and a peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.

saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, All therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but after their works do not: for they say, and do not.

Like as a roaring lion and a hungry bear, even so is an ungodly prince over the poor people.

And the people ran on them, and the officers rent their clothes, and commanded them to be beaten with rods, and when they had beaten them sore, they cast them into prison commanding the jailer to keep them surely.

And he drave them from the seat. Then took all the Greeks Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the Synagogue, and smote him before the judge's seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

But the Well gate builded Shallum the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the fourth part of Mizphah; He builded it, covered it, and set on the doors, locks, and bars thereof, and the wall unto the pool of Siloam by the king's garden, unto the steps that go down from the city of David.

And he was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And then Joseph departed from Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

Nevertheless, his sons followed not his steps: but turned aside after lucre and took rewards, and perverted the right.

Moreover, seek out, among all the people, men of activity which fear God; and men that are true and hate covetousness: and make them heads over the people, captains over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty, and over ten.

Neither showed they mercy on the house of Jerubbaal, otherwise called Gideon, according to all the goodness which he showed them.

Let him that teacheth take heed to his doctrine; Let him that exhorteth give attendance to his exhortation; If any man give, let him do it with singleness; Let him that ruleth do it with diligence; If any man show mercy let him do it with cheerfulness.

Give therefore unto thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, and to discern between good, and bad. For who is able to judge this, thy so weighty a people?"

For rulers are not to be feared for good works but for evil. Wilt thou be without fear of the power? Do well then: and so shalt thou be praised of the same.

Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power, but of God. The powers that be, are ordained of God.

He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul that he might loose him, wherefore he called him the oftener, and communed with him.

But Daniel exceeded all these princes and lords, for the spirit of God was plenteous in him: so that the king was minded to set him over the whole realm.

Wherefore the princes and lords sought to pick out in Daniel some quarrel against the kingdom: yet could they find none occasion nor fault upon him. For why? He was so faithful, that there was no blame nor dishonesty found in him.

I was a father unto the poor, and when I knew not their cause, I sought it out diligently.

But thou Ezra - after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand - set thou judges and arbiters, to judge all the people that is beyond the Jordan, even all such as know the law of thy God: and them that know it not, those see that ye teach.

And whosoever will not diligently fulfill the law of thy God, and the king's law, shall have his judgment for the deed, whether it be unto death, or to be banished, or to be condemned in goods, or to be put in prison."

Then said Paul, "I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest. For it is written, 'Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people.'"