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22 Do not ·abuse [L steal from] poor people because they are poor,
    and do not ·take away the rights of [oppress] the needy in ·court [L the gate].
23 The Lord will ·defend them in court [accuse their accusers]
    and will ·take the life of those who take away their rights [L press/squeeze the life out of those who press/squeeze them; Ex. 22:21–23; 23:6; Deut. 24:14–15].

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22 
Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless],
Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],(A)
23 
For the Lord will plead their case
And take the life of those who rob them.(B)

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·Rulers [or Poor people] who ·mistreat [oppress] the poor
are like a hard rain that ·destroys the crops [washes away the food].

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A poor man who oppresses and exploits the lowly
Is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.(A)

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It is better to be poor and ·innocent [walk blamelessly]
than to be rich and ·wicked [L be on crooked paths].

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Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked and two-faced though he is rich.(A)

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·Good [Righteous] people ·care [know] about ·justice for [the rights of] the poor,
but the wicked ·are not concerned [L do not understand].

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The righteous man cares for the rights of the poor,
But the wicked man has no interest in such knowledge.(A)

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13 The poor person and the ·cruel person [oppressor] are alike
in that the Lord gave light to the eyes of both of them.

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

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14 If a king judges poor people ·fairly [in truth; reliably],
his ·government [L throne] will ·continue [be established] forever.

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14 
If a king faithfully and truthfully judges the poor,
His throne shall be established forever.

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20 She ·welcomes [L stretches her palm to] the poor
    and ·helps [L sends her hands to] the needy.

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20 
She opens and extends her hand to the poor,
And she reaches out her filled hands to the needy.

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