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He is a merciful creditor, not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors. He does not rob the poor but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.

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He does not oppress(A) anyone,
    but returns what he took in pledge(B) for a loan.
He does not commit robbery(C)
    but gives his food to the hungry(D)
    and provides clothing for the naked.(E)

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16 He does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.

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16 He does not oppress anyone
    or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
    but gives his food to the hungry(A)
    and provides clothing for the naked.(B)

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12 oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,

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12 He oppresses the poor(A) and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.(B)
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.(C)

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26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as security for a loan, you must return it before sunset.

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26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge,(A) return it by sunset,

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15 For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die.

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15 if they give back what they took in pledge(A) for a loan, return what they have stolen,(B) follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.(C)

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12 If your neighbor is poor and gives you his cloak as security for a loan, do not keep the cloak overnight. 13 Return the cloak to its owner by sunset so he can stay warm through the night and bless you, and the Lord your God will count you as righteous.

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12 If the neighbor is poor, do not go to sleep with their pledge(A) in your possession. 13 Return their cloak by sunset(B) so that your neighbor may sleep in it.(C) Then they will thank you, and it will be regarded as a righteous act in the sight of the Lord your God.(D)

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11 John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”

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11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”(A)

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10 “My people have forgotten how to do right,”
    says the Lord.
“Their fortresses are filled with wealth
    taken by theft and violence.

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10 “They do not know how to do right,(A)” declares the Lord,
    “who store up in their fortresses(B)
    what they have plundered(C) and looted.”

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At their religious festivals,
    they lounge in clothing their debtors put up as security.
In the house of their gods,[a]
    they drink wine bought with unjust fines.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:8 Or their God.

They lie down beside every altar
    on garments taken in pledge.(A)
In the house of their god
    they drink wine(B) taken as fines.(C)

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18 But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.

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18 But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.

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16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister[a] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:17 Greek sees his brother.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.(A) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.(B) 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,(C) how can the love of God be in that person?(D) 18 Dear children,(E) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.(F)

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:

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Warning to the Rich

Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed innocent people,[a] who do not resist you.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 5:6a Or killed the Righteous One.
  2. 5:6b Or Don’t they resist you? or Doesn’t God oppose you? or Aren’t they now accusing you before God?

Warning to Rich Oppressors

Now listen,(A) you rich people,(B) weep and wail(C) because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.(D) Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.(E) Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers(F) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries(G) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.(H) You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves(I) in the day of slaughter.[a](J) You have condemned and murdered(K) the innocent one,(L) who was not opposing you.

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Footnotes

  1. James 5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting

13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead

14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

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13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.(A) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?(B) Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.(C) 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?(D) 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.(E)

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