^3 [a]Defend the poor and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and ^(A)needy.

¹⁸ To ^[a]do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
That the man of the earth may ^[b]oppress no more.

¹⁶ He ^[a]judged the cause of the poor and needy;
Then it was well.
Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord.

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.

^23 (A)Your princes are rebellious,
And ^(B)companions of thieves;
^(C)Everyone loves bribes,
And follows after rewards.
They ^(D)do not defend the fatherless,
Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

¹⁷ Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke ^[a]the oppressor;
^[b]Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.