From the third person at the end of verse 18, referring to judges and officers, the narrative switches to the second person (singular), addressing the people as a whole. It may be better to keep in this verse the third person plural of verse 18b, as Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje does, since it deals with the duties of the judges and officers in particular. However, Contemporary English Version offers the alternative “Those of you that become judges.”

You shall not pervert justice: there are various ways to speak of the miscarriage of justice. This is a general rule that can be expressed in a positive way: “Justice is to be administered fairly and equitably”; or “Justice is to be administered without fear or favor”; or even “They must judge [or, rule] fairly.”

You shall not show partiality: this is one particular form of miscarriage of justice; it is not being impartial, but favoring one person over the other. See “righteous judgment” in the previous verse.

You shall not take a bribe: there are many vivid expressions for bribery; for example, Spanish mordida, “bite.”

A bribe blinds the eyes of the wise: this expression is used in a figurative sense; it has to do with moral judgment. “A bribe makes it difficult for a wise judge to hand down the right decision.” Another possible translation is “A bribe makes a wise judge close his eyes to what is right.”

Subverts the cause of the righteous: that is, the cause (or, case) of an innocent person on trial is subverted when judges accept bribes. Subverts means to undermine or weaken (the cause of justice). So Good News Translation has “and cause them to give wrong decisions.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .