21 (A)“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 (B)You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they (C)cry out to me, I will surely (D)hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and (E)your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 (F)“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 (G)If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he (H)cries to me, I will hear, for I am (I)compassionate.

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Laws Protecting the Vulnerable

21 “You must not exploit a resident alien(A) or oppress him, since you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt.

22 “You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.(B) 23 If you do mistreat them, they will no doubt cry to me, and I will certainly hear their cry.(C) 24 My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.(D)

25 “If you lend silver to my people, to the poor person among you, you must not be like a creditor to him; you must not charge him interest.(E)

26 “If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him before sunset. 27 For it is his only covering; it is the clothing for his body.[a] What will he sleep in? And if he cries out to me, I will listen because I am gracious.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 22:27 Lit skin