Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.(A)

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17 Learn to do right;(A) seek justice.(B)
    Defend the oppressed.[a](C)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;(D)
    plead the case of the widow.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:17 Or justice. / Correct the oppressor

15 “‘Do not pervert justice;(A) do not show partiality(B) to the poor or favoritism to the great,(C) but judge your neighbor fairly.(D)

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16 And I charged your judges at that time, “Hear the disputes between your people and judge(A) fairly,(B) whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.(C)

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11 You levy a straw tax on the poor(A)
    and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,(B)
    you will not live in them;(C)
though you have planted lush vineyards,
    you will not drink their wine.(D)
12 For I know how many are your offenses
    and how great your sins.(E)

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes(F)
    and deprive the poor(G) of justice in the courts.(H)

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27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.(A) It may be that then your prosperity(B) will continue.(C)

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This is what the Lord says: Do what is just(A) and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor(B) the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow,(C) and do not shed innocent blood(D) in this place.

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15 I was eyes(A) to the blind
    and feet to the lame.(B)
16 I was a father to the needy;(C)
    I took up the case(D) of the stranger.(E)

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24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”(A)

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“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice;(A) show mercy and compassion to one another.(B)

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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.

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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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23 Your rulers are rebels,(A)
    partners with thieves;(B)
they all love bribes(C)
    and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
    the widow’s case does not come before them.(D)

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12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.(A)

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12 because I rescued the poor(A) who cried for help,
    and the fatherless(B) who had none to assist them.(C)

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The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

11 I saw heaven standing open(A) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider(B) is called Faithful and True.(C) With justice he judges and wages war.(D)

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You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions(A)
    by anointing you with the oil(B) of joy.”[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch,(A)
a King(B) who will reign(C) wisely
    and do what is just and right(D) in the land.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 23:5 Or up from David’s line

The Kingdom of Righteousness

32 See, a king(A) will reign in righteousness
    and rulers will rule with justice.(B)
Each one will be like a shelter(C) from the wind
    and a refuge from the storm,(D)
like streams of water(E) in the desert(F)
    and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

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but with righteousness(A) he will judge the needy,(B)
    with justice(C) he will give decisions for the poor(D) of the earth.
He will strike(E) the earth with the rod of his mouth;(F)
    with the breath(G) of his lips he will slay the wicked.(H)

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When a king sits on his throne to judge,(A)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(B)

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Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

Endow the king with your justice,(A) O God,
    the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness,(B)
    your afflicted ones with justice.

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Psalm 58[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b]

Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(A)
    Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,(B)
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
  2. Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

Judges

18 Appoint judges(A) and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.(B) 19 Do not pervert justice(C) or show partiality.(D) Do not accept a bribe,(E) for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. 20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.

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