What Does the Bible Say About Fairness?
Here are 21 Bible verses about fairness, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Proverbs 31:9
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
BSBOpen your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
- #2Leviticus 19:15
Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
BSBYou must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
- #3Psalms 106:3
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
BSBBlessed are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times.
- #4Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
BSBHe has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
- #5James 2:1-5
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
BSBMy brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- #6Ecclesiastes 9:11
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
BSBI saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
- #7Proverbs 21:15
It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
BSBJustice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
- #8Proverbs 16:11
A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.
BSBHonest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
- #9Ephesians 6:9
And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
BSBAnd masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
- #10Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
BSBFor God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- #11James 2:1
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
BSBMy brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
- #12Romans 2:11
For there is no respect of persons with God.
BSBFor God does not show favoritism.
- #13Colossians 4:1
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
BSBMasters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
- #14Deuteronomy 16:19-20
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
BSBDo not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
- #15Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
BSBDishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
- #16Matthew 20:16
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
BSBSo the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- #171 Peter 3:8
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
BSBFinally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
- #18Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
BSBThere is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- #19Proverbs 29:14
The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
BSBA king who judges the poor with fairness— his throne will be established forever.
- #20James 3:17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
BSBBut the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- #21Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
BSBLearn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).