תהלים, פרק פ״ב, פסוק ב׳

The integrity of the justice system relies on the courage and impartiality of those who preside over it. A severe rebuke is directed at judges who corrupt the legal process and show favoritism. Because God is actively present in the courtroom and oversees their actions, twisting justice is an act of profound arrogance. The judges are challenged on how they can lack the fear to pervert a judgment in which God is directly involved [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד].

The primary approach among commentators is that this corruption involves a conscious, deliberate bias toward the powerful. However, a more nuanced perspective suggests that judges do not always set out with the intention to pervert justice. They often recognize the wrongdoing and know exactly who the victim is, but because the opposing party is a wicked, violent, and dominant individual, they are afraid to confront him and surrender to his will. When judges fear the powerful, they should step away from the case entirely rather than issue a twisted ruling [אלשיך].

When judges show preference, they are essentially granting undue honor and flattery to corrupt individuals during a trial [מאירי, מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד]. This behavior expresses a welcoming, accepting countenance toward the guilty [אבן עזרא]. The motivation behind this favoritism is the high social standing of the wicked. Because these individuals are wealthy, powerful, and influential, the judges choose to flatter them, deliberately avoiding their duty to rescue the poor from the grip of their oppressors [רד״ק].