RobH_en_tn/deu/16/19.md

# You must not take justice away by force

Moses speaks of justice as if it were a physical object that a strong person can violently pull away from a weak person. This can be stated in positive form. Your language might have one word that means "use force to take away." Alternate translation: "You must not be unfair when you judge" or "You must make just decisions" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives]])

# You must not

Here "You" refers to those who will be appointed as judges and officers. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])

# for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous

Taking a bribe is spoken of as if the bribe were corrupting the people. Alternate translation: "for even a wise man who accepts a bribe will become blind, and even a righteous man who accepts a bribe will tell lies" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise

A wise person who accepts a bribe so that he does not speak against something evil is spoken of as if he becomes blind. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# the wise

The nominal adjective "the wise" can be translated as an adjective. Alternate translation: "a wise person" or "wise people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-nominaladj]])

# perverts the words of the righteous

The nominal adjective "righteous" can be translated as an adjective. Alternate translation: "causes a righteous person to lie" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-nominaladj]])