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Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them.(A)

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Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

Again I looked and saw all the oppression(A) that was taking place under the sun:

I saw the tears of the oppressed—
    and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
    and they have no comforter.(B)

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Judgment and the Future Belong to God

16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that, in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well.

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16 And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
    in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

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For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
    is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah
    are his cherished garden;
he expected justice
    but saw bloodshed;
righteousness
    but heard a cry!(A)

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The vineyard(A) of the Lord Almighty
    is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah
    are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice,(B) but saw bloodshed;
    for righteousness,(C) but heard cries of distress.(D)

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If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and right, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.(A)

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Riches Are Meaningless

If you see the poor oppressed(A) in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

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Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.(A)

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Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers(A) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries(B) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.(C)

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16 At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.(A)

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16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.(A) 17 But the Lord stood at my side(B) and gave me strength,(C) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.(D) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.(E)

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56 But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.(A)

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56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”(A) Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

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18 Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.(A)

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18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous(A) and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.(B)

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Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.(A)

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“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers,(A) adulterers(B) and perjurers,(C) against those who defraud laborers of their wages,(D) who oppress the widows(E) and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners(F) among you of justice, but do not fear(G) me,” says the Lord Almighty.

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Her uncleanness was in her skirts;
    she took no thought of her future;
her downfall was appalling,
    with none to comfort her.
Look, O Lord, at my affliction,
    for the enemy has triumphed!(A)

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Her filthiness clung to her skirts;
    she did not consider her future.(A)
Her fall(B) was astounding;
    there was none to comfort(C) her.
“Look, Lord, on my affliction,(D)
    for the enemy has triumphed.”

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She weeps bitterly in the night,
    with tears on her cheeks;
among all her lovers,
    she has no one to comfort her;
all her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
    they have become her enemies.(A)

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Bitterly she weeps(A) at night,
    tears are on her cheeks.
Among all her lovers(B)
    there is no one to comfort her.
All her friends have betrayed(C) her;
    they have become her enemies.(D)

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13 transgressing and denying the Lord
    and turning away from following our God,
talking oppression and revolt,
    conceiving lying words and uttering them from the heart.(A)
14 Justice is turned back,
    and deliverance stands at a distance,
for truth stumbles in the public square,
    and uprightness cannot enter.(B)
15 Truth is lacking,
    and whoever turns from evil is despoiled.

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
    that there was no justice.(C)

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13 rebellion(A) and treachery against the Lord,
    turning our backs(B) on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,(C)
    uttering lies(D) our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice(E) is driven back,
    and righteousness(F) stands at a distance;
truth(G) has stumbled in the streets,
    honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth(H) is nowhere to be found,
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased
    that there was no justice.(I)

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Their feet run to evil,
    and they rush to shed innocent blood;
their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
    desolation and destruction are in their highways.(A)

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Their feet rush into sin;
    they are swift to shed innocent blood.(A)
They pursue evil schemes;(B)
    acts of violence mark their ways.(C)

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