23 The uncultivated field of the poor yields abundant food,
but without justice, it is swept away.

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23 A poor person’s land might produce much food,
    but it is unjustly swept away.

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31 The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,(A)
but one who is kind to the needy honors him.(B)

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31 Those who exploit the powerless anger their maker,
    while those who are kind to the poor honor God.

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15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

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15 All the days of the needy are hard,
    but a happy heart has a continual feast.

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Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.(A)

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Better a little with righteousness
    than great profits without justice.

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16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.(A)

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16 Oppressing the poor to get rich
    and giving to the wealthy lead only to poverty.

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22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed(A) at the city gate,(B)
23 for the Lord will champion their cause(C)
and will plunder those who plunder them.

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22 Don’t steal from the poor, because they are poor.
    Don’t oppress the needy in the gate.
23 The Lord will take up their case
    and press the life out of those who oppress them.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:23 Heb uncertain

The righteous person knows the rights[a] of the poor,(A)
but the wicked one does not understand these concerns.

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Footnotes

  1. 29:7 Lit justice

The righteous know the rights of the poor,
    but the wicked don’t understand.

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A destitute leader[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 28:3 LXX reads A wicked man

Poor people who oppress the needy
    are rain that washes away food.

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13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:[a]
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 29:13 Lit oppressor meet

13 The poor and their oppressors have a common bond—
    the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

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