Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, because I come to you for safety. In the shadow of your wings I find protection until the raging storms are over.

Save me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who attack me!

Teach the king to judge with your righteousness, O God; share with him your own justice,

May the land enjoy prosperity; may it experience righteousness.

"Appoint judges and other officials in every town that the LORD your God gives you. These men are to judge the people impartially.

They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgments; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions.

The God of Israel has spoken; the protector of Israel said to me: "The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God,

and instructed them: "Be careful in pronouncing judgment; you are not acting on human authority, but on the authority of the LORD, and he is with you when you pass sentence.

Honor the LORD and act carefully, because the LORD our God does not tolerate fraud or partiality or the taking of bribes."

and find pleasure in obeying him. He will not judge by appearance or hearsay;

He will rule his people with justice and integrity.

Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with justice.

The LORD says, "The time is coming when I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will rule wisely and do what is right and just throughout the land.

When he is king, the people of Judah will be safe, and the people of Israel will live in peace. He will be called 'The LORD Our Salvation.'

God presides in the heavenly council; in the assembly of the gods he gives his decision:

"You must stop judging unjustly; you must no longer be partial to the wicked!

The LORD said to Moses, "Assemble seventy respected men who are recognized as leaders of the people, bring them to me at the Tent of my presence, and tell them to stand there beside you.

So I took the wise and experienced leaders you chose from your tribes, and I placed them in charge of you. Some were responsible for a thousand people, some for a hundred, some for fifty, and some for ten. I also appointed other officials throughout the tribes.

"At that time I instructed them, 'Listen to the disputes that come up among your people. Judge every dispute fairly, whether it concerns only your own people or involves foreigners who live among you.

So all the leaders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made a sacred alliance with them, they anointed him, and he became king of Israel.

Then the chief priests and the elders met together in the palace of Caiaphas, the High Priest,

Early in the morning all the chief priests and the elders made their plans against Jesus to put him to death.

There was a man named Joseph from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was a good and honorable man, who was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Although he was a member of the Council, he had not agreed with their decision and action.

(SEE 23:50)

The apostles obeyed, and at dawn they entered the Temple and started teaching. The High Priest and his companions called together all the Jewish elders for a full meeting of the Council; then they sent orders to the prison to have the apostles brought before them.

'You are gods,' I said; 'all of you are children of the Most High.'

But you will die like mortals; your life will end like that of any prince."