15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to evildoers.(A)

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15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
    but dismay to evildoers.

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The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,(A)
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

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Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and the rod of anger will fail.(A)

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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)

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22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor
    or crush the afflicted at the gate,(A)

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11 Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.(A)

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11 if you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death,
    those who go staggering to the slaughter;(A)

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Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,(A)
and his throne will be established in righteousness.(B)

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take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.(A)

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The evil do not understand justice,(A)
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.(B)

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The evil do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.(A)

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By justice a king brings stability to a land,(A)
but a person who demands “contributions”[a]
demolishes it.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 29:4 The Hb word for contributions usually refers to offerings in worship.

By justice a king gives stability to the land,
    but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.

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26 Many desire a ruler’s favor,(A)
but a person receives justice from the Lord.(B)

27 An unjust person is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright
is detestable to the wicked.(C)

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26 Many seek the favor of a ruler,
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(A)
27 The unjust are an abomination to the righteous,
    but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.

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Speak up[a] for those who have no voice,[b](A)
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.[c]
Speak up, judge righteously,(B)
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 31:8 Lit Open your mouth, also in v. 9
  2. 31:8 Lit who are mute
  3. 31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away

Speak out for those who cannot speak,
    for the rights of all the destitute.[a](A)
Speak out; judge righteously;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 31.8 Heb all children of passing away