The righteous (A)considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

16 I was a father to the poor,
And (A)I searched out the case that I did not know.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

The Blessing and Suffering of the Godly

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

41 Blessed is he who considers the [a]poor;
The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 41:1 helpless or powerless

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)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

13 (A)Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

(A)Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are [a]appointed to die.
Open your mouth, (B)judge righteously,
And (C)plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:8 Lit. sons of passing away

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)

Read full chapter

Bear and Share Burdens

Brethren, if a man is [a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of (A)gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 6:1 caught

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.

Read full chapter

29 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully (A)oppress the stranger. 30 (B)So I sought for a man among them who would (C)make a wall, and (D)stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have (E)poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed (F)their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter

15 “Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink,
And do justice and righteousness?
Then (A)it was well with him.
16 He [a]judged the cause of the poor and needy;
Then it was well.
Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord.
17 “Yet(B) your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness,
For shedding innocent blood,
And practicing oppression and violence.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 22:16 Defended

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)

Read full chapter

28 They have grown (A)fat, they are sleek;
Yes, they [a]surpass the deeds of the wicked;
They do not plead (B)the cause,
The cause of the fatherless;
(C)Yet they prosper,
And the right of the needy they do not defend.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 5:28 Or pass over or overlook

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)

Read full chapter

21 If I have raised my hand (A)against the fatherless,
When I saw I had help in the gate;

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

13 “If I have (A)despised the cause of my male or female servant
When they complained against me,

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

So when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited.

10 Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, (A)“Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. 11 (B)Shall I then take my bread and my water and my [a]meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 25:11 Lit. slaughter

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?”

Read full chapter

In you they have (A)made light of father and mother; in your midst they have (B)oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the [a]fatherless and the widow.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 22:7 Lit. orphan

In you they have treated father and mother with contempt;(A) in you they have oppressed the foreigner(B) and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.(C)

Read full chapter