11 (A)Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    (B)does not he who (C)weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who (D)keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not repay man (E)according to his work?

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11 Rescue those who are being led away to death,
    and save those who stumble toward slaughter.
12 If you say, “Look here, we didn’t know about this,”
    doesn’t God,[a] who examines motives,[b] discern it?
Doesn’t the one who guards your soul
    know about it?
Won’t he repay each person
    according to what he has done?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:12 Lit. he
  2. Proverbs 24:12 Lit. examines the heart

(A)A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.

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A poor man who oppresses the weak
    is like a rainstorm that destroys all[a] the crops.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Lit. that leaves no

27 Whoever (A)gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who (B)hides his eyes will get many a curse.

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27 Whoever gives to the poor will never lack,
    but whoever shuts his eyes to their poverty[a] will be cursed.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:27 The Heb. lacks to their poverty

(A)Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.[a]
Open your mouth, (B)judge righteously,
    (C)defend the rights of (D)the poor and needy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away

Speak for those who cannot speak;
    seek justice for all those on the verge of destruction.[a]
Speak up, judge righteously,
    and defend the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:8 Lit. all sons of destruction