Arcana Coelestia #9247
9247. THE INTERNAL SENSE
Verses 1-3 You shall not take up a report of vanity 1 ; do not put your hand with the wicked to be a witness of violence. 2 You shall not follow a multitude into evil things; 3 and you shall not respond 4 in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert [justice]. And you shall not show partiality towards 5 a poor man in his dispute.
'You shall not take up a report of vanity' means not listening to false ideas. 'Do not put your hand with the wicked' means not obeying malevolent feelings. 'To be a witness of violence' means not affirming such things as are contrary to the good of charity. 'You shall not follow a multitude into evil things' means not being associated with such things. 'And you shall not respond in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert [justice]' means not being associated with those who turn forms of good and truths into falsities and evils, and vice versa. 'And you shall not show partiality towards a poor man in his dispute' means that no favour must be shown towards the falsities that exist with those who have no knowledge of truth.
Footnotes:
1. i.e. accept and spread a report that has no truth in it
2. i.e. a malicious witness
3. literally, you shall not be after many towards evil things
4. i.e. testify
5. i.e. not have respect for
