The Torah In Haiku: Mishpatim

The Courtyard of the Arches at the Israeli Supreme Court. The narrow channel of water was inspired by a verse from Psalms: "Truth will spring up from the earth and justice will be reflected from the heavens"(85:12)

Commanded this week:
Best policy? Honesty.
Don’t pervert justice

Exodus 23:1-7
Do not accept a false report. Do not join forces with a wicked person to be a corrupt witness. Do not follow the majority to do evil. Do not speak up in a trial to pervert justice. A case must be decided on the basis of the majority. Do not favor [even] the poorest man in his lawsuit. If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone you hate lying under its load, you might want to refrain from helping him, but [instead] you must make every effort to help him [unload it]. Do not pervert justice for your degraded countryman in his lawsuit. Keep away from anything false.