Exegesis:
In vv. 37f four parallel clauses in the imperative are followed by clauses in the passive which describe what will be received or experienced in return. The agent of the passives is not stated (probably intentionally), but the description of ‘good measure’ (see on v. 38) makes clear that Luke thinks of God as the agent.
kai mē krinete ‘and do not judge.’
krinō ‘to judge’; here it is used metaphorically in the sense of ‘to act as judge’ (cf. Brouwer), ‘to pass judgment on other people.’
kai ou mē krithēte ‘and you will (certainly) not be judged,’ cf. on ou mē in 1.15 (cf. Revised Standard Version). kai introduces result, ‘and then’ (cf. Willibrord, Zürcher Bibel).
kai mē katadikazete ‘and do not condemn.’
katadikazō ‘to condemn,’ here used in a non-technical sense.
kai ou mē katadikasthēte ‘and you will (certainly) not be condemned,’ cf. on 1.15.
apoluete, kai apoluthēsesthe ‘acquit, and you will be acquitted.’
apoluō (cf. on 2.29) may be rendered (1) ‘to forgive’ (cf. Revised Standard Version), (2) ‘to acquit’ (cf. New English Bible), or (3) ‘to pardon’ (a debtor) (cf. Translator’s New Testament). Since rendering (2), ‘to acquit,’ is more consistent with krinō ‘to judge,’ and katadikazō ‘to condemn’ than the others, it appears preferable.
Translation:
The imperatives may require an object, e.g. ‘others’ (Sranan Tongo), ‘people/men.’ If passives, or other forms with indefinite agent, would suggest a human agent, it is better to add a reference to God, e.g. ‘you will not be judged by your Father’ (cf. Batak Toba 1885), or to shift to, “God will not judge you” (Good News Translation), and a similar reference (name or pronoun) in the subsequent sentences.
The common legal term for to judge may have a connotation that makes it unsuitable for use in a negative sentence, e.g. in Marathi where it implies settling a quarrel as arbitrator; then one may shift to ‘to expose the faults of’ (Marathi), ‘to accuse’ (Ekari).
Condemn has been rendered by idiomatic or descriptive phrases such as, ‘declare guilty’ (Marathi), ‘give (someone his) sin/blame’ (Highland Totonac, Central Mazahua), ‘decide for punishment’ (e.g. Tagalog).
Forgive, preferably, ‘acquit,’ the direct opposite of the preceding verb, e.g. ‘decide not to be guilty,’ ‘to set free (from punishment),’ etc.
Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.