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The godly care about the rights of the poor;
    the wicked don’t care at all.

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The righteous care about justice for the poor,(A)
    but the wicked have no such concern.

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16 I was a father to the poor
    and assisted strangers who needed help.

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16 I was a father to the needy;(A)
    I took up the case(B) of the stranger.(C)

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13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
    will be ignored in their own time of need.

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13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out(A) and not be answered.(B)

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Psalm 41

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
    The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.

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Psalm 41[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Blessed(A) are those who have regard for the weak;(B)
    the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.

We Harvest What We Plant

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer[a] is overcome by some sin, you who are godly[b] should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:1a Greek Brothers, if a man.
  2. 6:1b Greek spiritual.

Doing Good to All

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit(A) should restore(B) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

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Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
    ensure justice for those being crushed.
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
    and see that they get justice.

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Speak(A) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.(B)

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29 Even common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice.

30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. 31 So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

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29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery;(A) they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner,(B) denying them justice.(C)

30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall(D) and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.(E) 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger,(F) bringing down(G) on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.(H)

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15 But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!
    Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink.
But he was just and right in all his dealings.
    That is why God blessed him.
16 He gave justice and help to the poor and needy,
    and everything went well for him.
Isn’t that what it means to know me?”
    says the Lord.
17 “But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty!
    You murder the innocent,
    oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”

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15 “Does it make you a king
    to have more and more cedar?
Did not your father have food and drink?
    He did what was right and just,(A)
    so all went well(B) with him.
16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,(C)
    and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know(D) me?”
    declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
    are set only on dishonest gain,(E)
on shedding innocent blood(F)
    and on oppression and extortion.”(G)

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28 They are fat and sleek,
    and there is no limit to their wicked deeds.
They refuse to provide justice to orphans
    and deny the rights of the poor.

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28     and have grown fat(A) and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
    they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;(B)
    they do not defend the just cause of the poor.(C)

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21 “If I raised my hand against an orphan,
    knowing the judges would take my side,

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21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,(A)
    knowing that I had influence in court,(B)

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13 “If I have been unfair to my male or female servants
    when they brought their complaints to me,

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13 “If I have denied justice to any of my servants,(A)
    whether male or female,
    when they had a grievance against me,(B)

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David’s young men gave this message to Nabal in David’s name, and they waited for a reply.

10 “Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. 11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”

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When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David’s name. Then they waited.

10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who(A) is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread(B) and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”

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Judgment against Israel’s Leaders

I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel!
    You are supposed to know right from wrong,
but you are the very ones
    who hate good and love evil.
You skin my people alive
    and tear the flesh from their bones.
Yes, you eat my people’s flesh,
    strip off their skin,
    and break their bones.
You chop them up
    like meat for the cooking pot.
Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble!
    Do you really expect him to answer?
After all the evil you have done,
    he won’t even look at you!”

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Leaders and Prophets Rebuked

Then I said,

“Listen, you leaders(A) of Jacob,
    you rulers of Israel.
Should you not embrace justice,
    you who hate good and love evil;
who tear the skin from my people
    and the flesh from their bones;(B)
who eat my people’s flesh,(C)
    strip off their skin
    and break their bones in pieces;(D)
who chop(E) them up like meat for the pan,
    like flesh for the pot?(F)

Then they will cry out to the Lord,
    but he will not answer them.(G)
At that time he will hide his face(H) from them
    because of the evil they have done.(I)

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