If thou
lend money
to any
of my people
that is poor
by thee,
thou shalt not be
to him
as an usurer,
neither shalt
thou lay
upon him usury.
If thou
at all take
thy neighbour's raiment
to pledge,
thou shalt deliver
it unto him by
that the sun
goeth down:
For that is his covering only,
it is his raiment
for his skin:
wherein shall
he sleep?
and it
shall come
to pass,
when
he crieth unto me,
that I
will hear;
for I
am gracious.
Neither shalt
thou countenance
a poor man
in his cause.
Thou shalt not wrest
the judgment
of thy poor in his cause.
But the seventh year
thou shalt let
it
rest and lie still;
that the poor
of thy people
may eat:
and what
they
leave the beasts
of the field
shall eat.
In like manner
thou shalt deal with
thy vineyard,
and with thy oliveyard.
And
when
ye reap
the harvest
of your land,
thou shalt not wholly reap
the corners
of thy field,
neither shalt
thou gather
the gleanings
of thy harvest.
And
thou shalt not glean
thy vineyard,
neither shalt thou
gather every grape
of thy vineyard;
thou shalt leave them
for the poor
and stranger:
I am the LORD
your God.
Ye shall do
no unrighteousness
in judgment:
thou shalt not respect
the person
of the poor,
nor honor
the person
of the mighty:
but in righteousness
shalt thou
judge thy neighbour.
If thy brother
be waxen poor,
and hath sold away some of
his possession,
and
if any
of his kin come
to redeem it,
then shall
he redeem that
which his brother sold.
And
if the man
have none
to redeem it,
and himself
be able
to redeem it;
Then let him
count
the years
of the sale
thereof,
and restore
the overplus
unto the man
to whom
he sold it;
that he
may return
unto his possession.
But
if he
be not able
to restore it
to him,
then that which
is sold
shall remain
in the hand
of him that
hath bought it
until the year
of jubile:
and
in the jubile
it shall go out,
and
he shall return
unto his possession.
And
if thy brother
be waxen poor,
and fallen
in decay
with thee;
then
thou shalt relieve him:
yea,
though he
be
a stranger,
or a sojourner;
that he
may live
with thee.
Take
thou no usury
of him,
or increase:
but fear thy God;
that thy brother
may live
with thee.
Thou shalt not give him
thy money
upon usury,
nor lend him
thy victuals
for increase.
And
if thy brother
that
dwelleth by thee
be waxen poor,
and be sold
unto thee;
thou shalt not compel him
to serve
as a bondservant:
But as an hired servant,
and
as a sojourner,
he shall be
with thee,
and shall serve thee
unto the year
of jubile.
And
then shall
he depart
from thee,
both he
and his children
with him,
and shall return
unto his own family,
and
unto the possession
of his fathers
shall he return.
For they
are my servants,
which I
brought forth
out of the land
of Egypt:
they shall not be sold
as bondmen.
Thou shalt not rule
over him
with rigour;
but shalt fear
thy God.
At the end
of three years
thou shalt bring forth all
the tithe
of thine
increase the same year,
and shalt lay it up
within thy gates:
And the Levite,
(because
he
hath
no part
nor inheritance
with thee,)
and the stranger,
and the fatherless,
and the widow,
which are within thy gates,
shall come,
and shall eat
and be satisfied;
that the LORD
thy God
may bless thee
in all the work
of thine hand which
thou doest.
And this
is the manner
of the release:
Every creditor that
lendeth
ought
unto his neighbour
shall release it;
he shall not exact it
of his neighbour,
or of his brother;
because
it is called
the LORD's release.
Of a foreigner
thou mayest exact it again:
but that
which is thine
with thy brother
thine hand
shall release;
Save
when there shall be
no poor
among you;
for the LORD
shall greatly bless thee
in the land
which the LORD thy God
giveth thee
for an inheritance
to possess it:
Only if
thou carefully hearken
unto the voice
of the LORD thy God,
to observe
to do all
these commandments
which I
command thee
this day.
For the LORD
thy God
blesseth thee,
as he promised thee:
and
thou shalt lend
unto many nations,
but
thou shalt not borrow;
and
thou shalt reign
over many nations,
but
they shall not reign
over thee.
If there be
among you
a poor man
of one
of thy brethren
within any of thy
gates
in thy
land which the LORD
thy God
giveth thee,
thou shalt not harden
thine heart,
nor shut
thine hand
from thy poor brother:
But
thou shalt open
thine hand wide
unto him,
and shalt surely lend him
sufficient
for his need,
in that
which he wanteth.
Beware that
there be not
a thought
in thy wicked heart,
saying,
The seventh year,
the year
of release,
is at hand;
and thine
eye
be evil
against thy poor brother,
and
thou givest him
nought;
and he
cry
unto the LORD
against thee,
and it
be sin
unto thee.
Thou shalt surely give him,
and thine heart
shall not be grieved
when
thou
givest unto him:
because
that for this thing
the LORD thy God
shall bless thee
in all
thy works,
and in all
that thou
puttest thine hand unto.
For the poor
shall never cease
out of the land:
therefore I
command thee,
saying,
Thou
shalt open
thine hand wide
unto thy brother,
to thy poor,
and to thy needy,
in thy land.
And
if thy brother,
an Hebrew man,
or an Hebrew woman,
be sold
unto thee,
and serve
thee six years;
then
in the seventh year
thou shalt let him
go free
from thee.
And
when
thou sendest him
out free
from thee,
thou shalt not let him
go away empty:
Thou shalt furnish him liberally
out of thy flock,
and
out of thy floor,
and
out of thy winepress:
of that
wherewith
the LORD thy God
hath blessed thee
thou
shalt give unto him.
And
if the man
be poor,
thou shalt not sleep
with his pledge:
In any case thou
shalt deliver him
the pledge
again
when the sun
goeth down,
that he
may sleep
in his own raiment,
and bless thee:
and it
shall be righteousness
unto thee
before the LORD thy God.
Thou shalt not oppress
an hired servant
that is poor
and needy,
whether he
be of thy brethren,
or of thy strangers
that
are in thy
land
within thy gates:
At his day
thou shalt give him
his hire,
neither shall
the sun go down
upon it;
for he
is poor,
and setteth
his heart
upon it:
lest
he cry
against thee
unto the LORD,
and it
be sin
unto thee.
The fathers
shall not be put
to death
for the children,
neither shall
the children
be put
to death
for the fathers:
every man
shall be put
to death
for his own sin.
Thou shalt not pervert
the judgment
of the stranger,
nor
of the fatherless;
nor take
a widow's raiment
to pledge:
But
thou shalt remember that
thou wast a bondman
in Egypt,
and the LORD
thy God
redeemed thee
thence:
therefore I
command thee
to do this thing.
When thou
cuttest down thine
harvest
in thy field,
and hast
forgot a sheaf
in the field,
thou shalt not go again
to fetch it:
it shall be
for the stranger,
for the fatherless,
and for the widow:
that the LORD
thy God
may bless thee
in all the work
of thine hands.
When
thou beatest thine olive tree,
thou shalt not go over
the boughs again:
it shall be
for the stranger,
for the fatherless,
and for the widow.
When
thou gatherest
the grapes
of thy vineyard,
thou shalt not glean it afterward:
it shall be
for the stranger,
for the fatherless,
and for the widow.
When
thou hast made
an end
of tithing all
the tithes
of thine
increase the third year,
which is the year
of tithing,
and hast given
it unto the Levite,
the stranger,
the fatherless,
and the widow,
that they
may eat
within thy gates,
and be filled;
Then
thou shalt say
before the LORD thy God,
I have brought away
the hallowed things
out of mine house,
and also have given them
unto the Levite,
and
unto the stranger,
to the fatherless,
and to the widow,
according to all
thy commandments which
thou hast commanded me:
I have not transgressed
thy commandments,
neither have
I forgotten them.
The LORD
maketh poor,
and maketh rich:
he bringeth low,
and
lifteth up.
And there was
a great cry
of the people
and of their wives
against their brethren the Jews.
For there were
that said,
We,
our sons,
and our daughters,
are many:
therefore we
take up corn
for them,
that
we may eat,
and live.
Some
also there were
that said,
We have mortgaged
our lands,
vineyards,
and houses,
that we
might buy corn,
because
of the dearth.
There were also
that said,
We have borrowed money
for the king's tribute,
and
that upon our lands
and vineyards.
Yet now
our flesh
is as the flesh
of our brethren,
our children
as their children:
and,
lo,
we bring
into bondage
our sons
and our daughters
to be servants,
and some of
our daughters
are brought
unto bondage already:
neither is it
in our power
to redeem them;
for other men
have our lands
and vineyards.
And
I was very angry
when I
heard
their cry and these words.
Then I
consulted
with myself,
and
I rebuked
the nobles,
and the rulers,
and
said unto them,
Ye exact usury,
every one
of his brother.
And I set
a great
assembly against them.
And
I said unto them,
We after our ability
have redeemed
our brethren the Jews,
which were sold
unto the heathen;
and will
ye even sell
your brethren?
or shall
they
be sold unto us?
Then held
they their peace,
and found nothing
to answer.
Also I said,
It is not good
that
ye do:
ought
ye not
to walk
in the fear
of our God
because
of the reproach
of the heathen our enemies?
I likewise,
and my brethren,
and my servants,
might exact
of them money
and corn:
I pray you,
let us
leave off
this usury.
Restore,
I pray you,
to them,
even this day,
their lands,
their vineyards,
their oliveyards,
and their houses,
also the hundredth part
of the money,
and of the corn,
the wine,
and the oil,
that ye
exact of them.
Then said they,
We will restore them,
and will require nothing
of them;
so will
we do
as thou sayest.
Then
I called
the priests,
and took
an oath
of them,
that they
should do according to
this promise.
Also I
shook my lap,
and said,
So God
shake
out every man
from his house,
and
from his labour,
that performeth not
this promise,
even thus
be he shaken out,
and emptied.
And all
the congregation said,
Amen,
and praised
the LORD.
And the people
did according to
this promise.
Then
he said unto them,
Go your way,
eat the fat,
and drink
the sweet,
and send portions
unto them for whom nothing
is prepared:
for this day
is holy
unto our LORD:
neither be
ye sorry;
for the joy
of the LORD
is your strength.
And all
the people
went their way
to eat,
and to drink,
and to send portions,
and to make great mirth,
because
they had understood
the words
that were declared unto them.
But he
saveth
the poor
from the sword,
from their mouth,
and from the hand
of the mighty.
Because
he hath oppressed
and hath forsaken
the poor;
because
he hath violently taken away
an house
which he
builded not;
Surely
he shall not feel quietness
in his belly,
he shall not save
of that
which he desired.
There shall none of
his meat
be left;
therefore shall
no man
look for
his goods.
For thou
hast taken a pledge
from thy brother
for nought,
and stripped
the naked
of their clothing.
Thou hast not given
water
to the weary
to drink,
and
thou hast withholden bread
from the hungry.
Thou hast sent
widows away empty,
and
the arms
of the fatherless
have been broken.
Therefore snares
are round
about thee,
and sudden fear
troubleth thee;
Or darkness,
that thou canst
not see;
and abundance
of waters cover thee.
They turn
the needy out of the way:
the poor
of the earth
hide themselves together.
They
cause the naked
to lodge without
clothing,
that they
have no
covering
in the cold.
They are wet with the showers
of the mountains,
and embrace
the rock
for want
of a shelter.
They pluck
the fatherless
from the breast,
and take
a pledge
of the poor.
They cause him
to go naked
without clothing,
and
they take away
the sheaf
from the hungry;
When the ear
heard me,
then it
blessed me;
and
when the eye
saw me,
it gave
witness to me:
Because
I delivered
the poor
that cried,
and the fatherless,
and him
that had none
to help him.
The blessing
of him that
was ready
to perish came upon me:
and
I caused
the widow's heart
to sing
for joy.
I was
eyes
to the blind,
and feet
was I to the lame.
I was a father
to the poor:
and the cause
which I
knew not I searched out.
Did not
I weep
for him that
was in trouble?
was not
my soul
grieved
for the poor?
Did not
he that
made me
in the womb make him?
and did not
one fashion us
in the womb?
If I
have withheld the poor
from their desire,
or have caused
the eyes
of the widow
to fail;
Or have eaten
my morsel myself alone,
and the fatherless
hath not eaten
thereof;
(For
from my youth
he was brought up with me,
as with a father,
and
I have guided her
from my mother's womb;)
If I
have seen any
perish
for want
of clothing,
or any poor
without covering;
If his loins
have not blessed me,
and
if he
were not warmed
with the fleece
of my sheep;
If I
have lifted
up my hand
against the fatherless,
when
I saw
my help
in the gate:
Then let
mine
arm
fall
from my shoulder blade,
and mine
arm
be broken
from the bone.
Is it
fit
to say
to a king,
Thou art wicked?
and to princes,
Ye are ungodly?
How much less
to him
that accepteth not
the persons
of princes,
nor regardeth
the rich more than the poor?
for they all are
the work
of his hands.
So that
they cause
the cry
of the poor
to come unto him,
and
he heareth
the cry
of the afflicted.
He preserveth not the life
of the wicked:
but giveth
right
to the poor.
He delivereth
the poor in his affliction,
and openeth
their ears
in oppression.
For the needy
shall not alway be forgotten:
the expectation
of the poor
shall not perish
for ever.
The wicked
in his pride
doth persecute
the poor:
let them
be taken
in the devices
that
they have imagined.
He sitteth in the lurking places
of the villages:
in the secret
places
doth
he murder
the innocent:
his eyes
are privily set
against the poor.
He lieth
in wait secretly
as a lion
in his den:
he lieth
in wait
to catch the poor:
he doth catch
the poor,
when
he draweth him
into his net.
He croucheth,
and humbleth himself,
that the poor
may fall
by his strong ones.
Thou hast seen it;
for thou
beholdest mischief
and spite,
to requite
it with thy hand:
the poor
committeth himself
unto thee;
thou art
the helper
of the fatherless.
For the oppression
of the poor,
for the sighing
of the needy,
now will
I arise,
saith the LORD;
I will set him
in safety
from him that
puffeth at him.
Ye have shamed
the counsel
of the poor,
because
the LORD is his refuge.
This poor man cried,
and the LORD
heard him,
and saved him
out of all his troubles.
All my bones
shall say,
LORD,
who is like
unto thee,
which deliverest
the poor
from him that is too strong
for him, yea,
the poor
and the needy
from him that
spoileth him?
The wicked
have drawn
out the sword,
and have bent
their bow,
to cast
down the poor
and needy,
and to slay
such as be
of upright conversation.
A little
that a righteous man
hath
is
better
than the riches
of many wicked.
The wicked borroweth,
and payeth
not again:
but the righteous
sheweth mercy,
and giveth.
He is ever merciful,
and lendeth;
and his seed
is blessed.
Blessed
is
he that
considereth the poor:
the LORD
will deliver him
in time
of trouble.
The LORD
will preserve him,
and keep him alive;
and
he shall be blessed
upon the earth:
and
thou wilt not deliver him
unto the will
of his enemies.
The LORD
will strengthen him
upon the bed
of languishing:
thou wilt make
all his bed
in his sickness.
Thy congregation
hath dwelt
therein:
thou,
O God,
hast prepared
of thy goodness
for the poor.
For the LORD heareth the poor,
and despiseth not
his prisoners.
He shall judge thy people
with righteousness,
and thy poor
with judgment.
He shall judge the poor
of the people,
he shall save the children
of the needy,
and shall break
in pieces the oppressor.
For he
shall deliver the needy
when he crieth;
the poor also,
and him that
hath no helper.
He shall spare
the poor
and needy,
and shall save
the souls
of the needy.
He shall redeem
their soul
from deceit
and violence:
and precious
shall their blood
be in his sight.
O let not
the oppressed
return ashamed:
let the poor
and needy praise
thy name.
Defend the poor
and fatherless:
do justice
to the afflicted
and needy.
Deliver the poor
and needy:
rid them
out of the hand
of the wicked.
He will regard the prayer
of the destitute,
and not despise
their prayer.
For he
satisfieth the longing soul,
and filleth
the hungry soul
with goodness.
Oh that men
would praise
the LORD
for his goodness,
and
for his wonderful works
to the children
of men!
And
there
he maketh
the hungry
to dwell,
that they
may prepare a city
for habitation;
Because
that
he remembered not
to shew mercy,
but persecuted
the poor
and needy man,
that he
might even slay
the broken in heart.
For he
shall stand
at the right hand
of the poor,
to save him
from those
that condemn
his soul.
Unto the upright
there ariseth
light
in the darkness:
he is gracious,
and full of compassion,
and righteous.
A good man
sheweth favour,
and lendeth:
he will guide his affairs
with discretion.
He hath dispersed,
he hath given
to the poor;
his righteousness
endureth for ever;
his horn
shall be exalted
with honour.
He raiseth up the poor
out of the dust,
and lifteth
the needy
out of the dunghill;
I will abundantly bless
her provision:
I will satisfy
her poor
with bread.
I know
that the LORD
will maintain
the cause
of the afflicted,
and the right
of the poor.
Happy is he that
hath the God
of Jacob
for his help,
whose hope
is in the LORD
his God:
Which executeth judgment
for the oppressed:
which giveth food
to the hungry.
The LORD
looseth the prisoners:
The rich man's wealth
is his strong city:
the destruction
of the poor
is their poverty.
There is
that maketh himself rich,
yet hath nothing:
there is
that maketh himself poor,
yet hath great riches.
The ransom
of a man's life
are his riches:
but the poor heareth
not rebuke.
Much food
is in the tillage
of the poor:
but there is
that is destroyed
for want
of judgment.
The poor
is hated even
of his own neighbour:
but the rich
hath many friends.
He that
despiseth
his neighbour sinneth:
but he that
hath mercy
on the poor,
happy is he.
He that
oppresseth
the poor
reproacheth his Maker:
but he
that honoureth him
hath mercy
on the poor.
Whoso
mocketh
the poor
reproacheth his Maker:
and
he that is glad
at calamities
shall not be unpunished.
The poor
useth intreaties;
but the rich
answereth roughly.
Better is the poor
that walketh in his integrity,
than
he that is perverse
in his lips,
and is a fool.
Wealth maketh many friends;
but the poor
is separated
from his neighbour.
All
the brethren
of the poor
do hate him:
how much more
do
his friends
go far
from him?
he pursueth them
with words,
yet
they are wanting
to him.
He that
hath
pity
upon the poor
lendeth unto the LORD;
and
that which
he hath given
will
he pay him again.
The desire
of a man
is his kindness:
and a poor man
is better
than a liar.
Love not sleep,
lest thou
come to poverty;
open thine eyes,
and
thou shalt be satisfied
with bread.
Whoso stoppeth
his ears
at the cry
of the poor,
he also shall cry himself,
but shall not be heard.
The rich
and poor meet
together:
the LORD
is the maker
of them all.
The rich
ruleth over the poor,
and the borrower
is servant
to the lender.
He that
hath
a bountiful eye
shall be blessed;
for he
giveth of his bread
to the poor.
Rob not the poor,
because
he is poor:
neither oppress
the afflicted
in the gate:
For the LORD
will plead
their cause,
and spoil
the soul
of those
that spoiled them.
For the drunkard
and the glutton
shall come
to poverty:
and drowsiness
shall clothe a man
with rags.
A poor man
that
oppresseth
the poor
is like
a sweeping rain
which leaveth no food.
Better is the poor
that walketh in his uprightness,
than
he that is perverse
in his ways,
though he
be rich.
He that
by usury
and unjust gain
increaseth his substance,
he shall gather
it for him that
will pity
the poor.
The rich man
is wise
in his own conceit;
but the poor that
hath
understanding searcheth him out.
As a roaring lion,
and a ranging bear;
so is
a wicked ruler
over the poor people.
He that
tilleth
his land
shall have plenty
of bread:
but he
that followeth after vain persons
shall have
poverty enough.
He that
giveth unto the poor
shall not lack:
but
he that
hideth his eyes
shall have
many a curse.
The righteous
considereth
the cause
of the poor:
but the wicked
regardeth not
to know it.
The poor
and the deceitful man meet together:
the LORD
lighteneth both their eyes.
The king that
faithfully judgeth
the poor,
his throne
shall be established
for ever.
There is
a generation,
whose teeth
are as swords,
and their jaw teeth
as knives,
to devour the poor from
off the earth,
and the needy from
among men.
Open thy mouth,
judge righteously,
and plead
the cause
of the poor
and needy.
She stretcheth out her hand
to the poor;
yea,
she reacheth forth her hands
to the needy.
Better is an handful
with quietness,
than both the hands full
with travail
and vexation
of spirit.
Better is a poor
and a wise child
than an old
and foolish king,
who will
no more
be admonished.
If thou
seest the oppression
of the poor,
and violent perverting
of judgment
and justice
in a province,
marvel not
at the matter:
for he
that is higher than
the highest regardeth;
and there be higher
than they.
For what
hath the wise more than the fool?
what hath
the poor,
that knoweth
to walk
before the living?
Now there was found
in it
a poor wise man,
and
he by his wisdom
delivered
the city;
yet no man
remembered
that same poor man.
Then said I,
Wisdom
is
better
than strength:
nevertheless
the poor man's wisdom
is despised,
and his words
are not heard.
Learn to do well;
seek judgment,
relieve the oppressed,
judge the fatherless,
plead for the widow.
The LORD
will enter
into judgment
with the ancients
of his people,
and the princes
thereof:
for ye
have eaten
up the vineyard;
the spoil
of the poor
is in your houses.
What mean ye that
ye beat
my people
to pieces,
and grind
the faces
of the poor?
saith the Lord GOD
of hosts.
Woe unto them that decree
unrighteous decrees,
and
that write grievousness
which they
have prescribed;
To turn
aside the needy
from judgment,
and
to take away the right
from the poor
of my people,
that widows
may be
their prey,
and
that they
may rob
the fatherless!
But with righteousness
shall
he judge
the poor,
and reprove
with equity
for the meek
of the earth:
and
he shall smite
the earth:
with the rod
of his mouth,
and
with the breath
of his lips
shall
he slay
the wicked.
And the firstborn
of the poor
shall feed,
and the needy
shall lie down
in safety:
and I
will kill
thy root
with famine,
and he
shall slay thy remnant.
What shall one
then answer
the messengers
of the nation?
That the LORD
hath founded Zion,
and the poor
of his people
shall trust in it.
Take counsel,
execute judgment;
make
thy shadow
as the night
in the midst
of the noonday;
hide the outcasts;
bewray not him
that wandereth.
Let mine outcasts
dwell with thee,
Moab;
be thou a covert
to them
from the face
of the spoiler:
for the extortioner
is at an end,
the spoiler ceaseth,
the oppressors
are consumed
out of the land.
For thou
hast been
a strength
to the poor,
a strength
to the needy
in his distress,
a refuge
from the storm,
a shadow
from the heat,
when
the blast
of the terrible
ones is as a storm
against the wall.
The meek
also shall increase
their joy
in the LORD,
and the poor
among men
shall rejoice in the Holy One
of Israel.
For the vile person
will speak villany,
and his heart
will work iniquity,
to practise hypocrisy,
and
to utter error
against the LORD,
to make
empty the soul
of the hungry,
and he
will cause
the drink
of the thirsty
to fail.
The instruments
also of the churl
are evil:
he deviseth
wicked devices
to destroy the poor
with lying words,
even
when the needy
speaketh right.
When the poor
and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue
faileth
for thirst,
I the LORD
will hear them,
I the God
of Israel
will not forsake them.
Is it
not
to deal thy bread
to the hungry,
and
that thou
bring
the poor
that
are cast out
to thy house?
when
thou seest the naked,
that thou
cover him;
and
that thou
hide not thyself
from thine own flesh?
And
if thou
draw out thy soul
to the hungry,
and satisfy
the afflicted soul;
then shall
thy light
rise
in obscurity,
and thy darkness
be
as the noon day:
For all
those things
hath
mine hand made,
and all those things
have been,
saith the LORD:
but to this man
will
I look,
even to him
that is poor and
of a contrite spirit,
and trembleth at my word.
Sing
unto the LORD,
praise
ye the LORD:
for he
hath delivered the soul
of the poor
from the hand
of evildoers.
He judged the cause
of the poor
and needy;
then it
was well with him:
was not
this to know me?
saith the LORD.
Behold,
this was the iniquity
of thy sister Sodom,
pride,
fulness of bread,
and
abundance
of idleness
was in her
and in her daughters,
neither did
she strengthen
the hand
of the poor
and needy.
And hath not oppressed any,
but hath restored
to the debtor his pledge,
hath spoiled none
by violence,
hath given his bread
to the hungry,
and hath covered
the naked
with a garment;
Hath oppressed
the poor
and needy,
hath spoiled
by violence,
hath not restored
the pledge,
and hath lifted
up his eyes
to the idols,
hath committed
abomination,
The people
of the land
have used oppression,
and exercised
robbery,
and have vexed
the poor
and needy:
yea,
they have oppressed
the stranger wrongfully.
Wherefore,
O king,
let my counsel
be acceptable
unto thee,
and break off thy
sins
by righteousness,
and thine iniquities
by shewing mercy
to the poor;
if it
may be
a lengthening
of thy tranquillity.
Thus saith the LORD;
For three transgressions
of Israel,
and for four,
I will not turn away
the punishment
thereof;
because
they sold
the righteous
for silver,
and the poor
for a pair
of shoes;
That pant
after the dust
of the earth
on the head
of the poor,
and turn
aside the way
of the meek:
and a man
and his father
will go in
unto the same maid,
to profane my holy name:
And
they lay themselves down
upon clothes
laid
to pledge
by every altar,
and
they drink
the wine
of the condemned
in the house
of their god.
Hear this word,
ye kine
of Bashan,
that are in the mountain
of Samaria,
which oppress
the poor,
which crush
the needy,
which say
to their masters,
Bring,
and let us drink.
The Lord GOD
hath sworn
by his holiness,
that,
lo,
the days
shall come upon you,
that he
will take you
away with hooks,
and your posterity
with fishhooks.
Forasmuch
therefore as your treading
is upon the poor,
and ye
take
from him burdens
of wheat:
ye have built
houses
of hewn stone,
but
ye shall not dwell in them;
ye have planted
pleasant vineyards,
but
ye shall not drink wine
of them.
For I
know your manifold transgressions
and your mighty sins:
they afflict
the just,
they take
a bribe,
and they
turn
aside the poor in the gate
from their right.
Hear this,
O ye
that swallow
up the needy,
even to make
the poor
of the land
to fail,
That we
may buy
the poor
for silver,
and the needy
for a pair
of shoes;
yea,
and sell
the refuse
of the wheat?
Thou didst strike through
with his staves
the head
of his villages:
they came out
as a whirlwind
to scatter me:
their rejoicing
was as
to devour
the poor secretly.
I will also leave
in the midst
of thee
an afflicted
and poor people,
and
they shall trust in the name
of the LORD.
And oppress not
the widow,
nor the fatherless,
the stranger,
nor the poor;
and let none of you
imagine evil
against his brother
in your heart.
And I
will feed
the flock
of slaughter,
even you,
O poor
of the flock.
And
I took unto me two staves;
the one
I called Beauty,
and the other
I called Bands;
and
I fed
the flock.
Blessed are the poor in spirit:
for theirs
is the kingdom
of heaven.
Give
to him
that asketh thee,
and from him that
would borrow
of thee
turn not thou away.
The blind
receive their sight,
and the lame walk,
the lepers
are cleansed,
and the deaf hear,
the dead
are raised up,
and the poor
have
the gospel
preached
to them.
Jesus
said unto him,
If thou
wilt be perfect,
go and sell that
thou hast,
and give
to the poor,
and
thou shalt have
treasure
in heaven:
and come
and follow me.
For I
was an hungred,
and
ye gave me meat:
I was thirsty,
and
ye gave me drink:
I was a stranger,
and
ye took me in:
Naked,
and
ye clothed me:
I was sick,
and
ye visited me:
I was in prison,
and
ye came unto me.
For I
was an hungred,
and
ye gave me no meat:
I was thirsty,
and ye
gave me
no drink:
Then shall
he answer them,
saying,
Verily I
say unto you,
Inasmuch as
ye did it
not to one
of the least
of these,
ye did it not to me.
For ye
have the poor
always with you;
but me
ye have not always.
And he
called
unto him his disciples,
and
saith unto them,
Verily I
say unto you,
That this poor widow
hath cast more in,
than all
they which
have cast
into the treasury:
For all
they did cast in
of their abundance;
but
she of her want
did cast in all
that
she had,
even all her living.
For ye
have the poor
with you always,
and whensoever
ye will
ye may do them good:
but me
ye have not always.
He answereth
and
saith unto them,
He that
hath two coats,
let him
impart to him
that hath none;
and he that
hath meat,
let him do likewise.
The Spirit
of the Lord
is upon me,
because
he hath anointed me
to preach the gospel
to the poor;
he hath sent me
to heal
the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance
to the captives,
and recovering
of sight
to the blind,
to set at liberty
them
that are bruised,
And he
lifted
up his eyes
on his disciples,
and said,
Blessed
be
ye poor:
for yours
is the kingdom
of God.
But love
ye your enemies,
and do good,
and lend,
hoping
for nothing again;
and your reward
shall be great,
and
ye shall be the children
of the Highest:
for he
is kind
unto the unthankful
and to the evil.
But
rather give alms
of such things
as ye have;
and,
behold,
all things
are clean
unto you.
Sell that
ye have,
and give alms;
provide yourselves
bags
which wax not old,
a treasure
in the heavens
that faileth not,
where no thief approacheth,
neither moth corrupteth.
Then said
he also to him that
bade him,
When
thou makest
a dinner
or a supper,
call
not thy friends,
nor thy brethren,
neither thy kinsmen,
nor thy rich neighbours;
lest
they also bid thee again,
and a recompence
be made thee.
But
when
thou makest a feast,
call the poor,
the maimed,
the lame,
the blind:
And
thou shalt be blessed;
for they
cannot recompense thee:
for thou
shalt be recompensed
at the resurrection
of the just.
And there was
a certain beggar
named Lazarus,
which was laid
at his gate,
full of sores,
And desiring
to be fed
with the crumbs
which fell
from the rich man's table:
moreover the dogs
came
and licked
his sores.
And it
came
to pass,
that the beggar died,
and was carried
by the angels
into Abraham's bosom:
the rich man
also died,
and was buried;
Now
when Jesus
heard these things,
he said unto him,
Yet lackest
thou one thing:
sell all that
thou hast,
and distribute
unto the poor,
and
thou shalt have
treasure
in heaven:
and come,
follow me.
And Zacchaeus stood,
and said
unto the Lord:
Behold, Lord,
the half
of my goods
I give
to the poor;
and
if I
have taken any thing
from any man
by false accusation,
I restore him
fourfold.
This
he said,
not
that he
cared
for the poor;
but
because
he was a thief,
and had the bag,
and bare
what was put
therein.
I have shewed
you all things,
how that so
labouring
ye ought to support
the weak,
and
to remember the words
of the Lord Jesus,
how he said,
It is more blessed
to give than
to receive.
And be not conformed
to this world:
but be
ye transformed
by the renewing
of your mind,
that ye
may prove
what is that good,
and acceptable,
and perfect,
will of God.
Or he
that exhorteth,
on exhortation:
he that giveth,
let him
do it
with simplicity;
he that ruleth,
with diligence;
he that
sheweth mercy,
with cheerfulness.
Distributing
to the necessity
of saints;
given
to hospitality.
And
though I
bestow all
my goods
to feed
the poor,
and
though I
give my body
to be burned,
and have not
charity,
it profiteth me
nothing.
Now concerning
the collection
for the saints,
as I
have given
order
to the churches
of Galatia,
even so
do ye.
Upon the first day
of the week
let
every one
of you
lay
by him in store,
as God
hath prospered him,
that there be
no gatherings
when I come.
As sorrowful,
yet alway rejoicing;
as poor,
yet making many rich;
as having nothing,
and yet possessing all things.
Therefore I
thought it necessary
to exhort the brethren,
that they
would go before
unto you,
and make up beforehand
your bounty,
whereof
ye had
notice before,
that the same
might be ready,
as a matter
of bounty,
and not as
of covetousness.
But this
I say,
He
which soweth
sparingly shall reap
also sparingly;
and he which
soweth
bountifully shall reap
also bountifully.
Every man
according as he
purposeth in his heart,
so let him give;
not grudgingly,
or of necessity:
for God
loveth a cheerful giver.
Only they
would
that we
should remember
the poor;
the same which
I also was
forward to do.
As we
have therefore
opportunity,
let us
do good
unto all men,
especially unto them
who are of the household
of faith.
Let him
that stole
steal no more:
but rather let him labour,
working
with his hands
the thing which
is good,
that he
may have to give
to him that needeth.
Howbeit
for this cause
I obtained mercy,
that in me first Jesus Christ
might shew
forth all longsuffering,
for a pattern
to them which
should hereafter believe
on him
to life everlasting.
Let not a widow
be taken
into the number
under threescore years old,
having been the wife
of one man.
Well reported of
for good works;
if she
have brought
up children,
if she
have lodged strangers,
if she
have washed
the saints' feet,
if she
have relieved
the afflicted,
if she
have diligently followed
every good work.
Remember them that
are in bonds,
as bound with them;
and them which
suffer adversity,
as being yourselves also
in the body.
Let the brother
of low degree
rejoice in that
he is exalted:
But the rich,
in that
he is made low:
because
as the flower
of the grass
he shall pass away.
Pure religion
and undefiled
before God
and the Father
is this,
To visit
the fatherless
and widows
in their affliction,
and
to keep himself unspotted
from the world.
For if there come
unto your assembly a man
with a gold ring,
in goodly apparel,
and there come in also
a poor man
in vile raiment;
And
ye have
respect
to him
that weareth the gay clothing,
and say unto him,
Sit
thou here
in a good place;
and say
to the poor,
Stand thou there,
or sit here
under my footstool:
Are ye not
then partial
in yourselves,
and are become
judges
of evil thoughts?
Hearken,
my beloved brethren,
Hath
not God
chosen
the poor
of this world rich in faith,
and heirs
of the kingdom
which he
hath promised
to them that love him?
But
ye have despised
the poor.
Do not
rich men
oppress you,
and draw you
before the judgment seats?
Do not
they blaspheme
that worthy name
by the which
ye are called?
If ye fulfil
the royal law
according to the scripture,
Thou
shalt love
thy neighbour
as thyself,
ye do well:
But
if ye
have respect
to persons,
ye commit sin,
and are convinced
of the law
as transgressors.
If a brother
or sister
be naked,
and destitute
of daily food,
And one
of you
say unto them,
Depart in peace,
be ye
warmed
and filled;
notwithstanding
ye give them not those things which
are needful
to the body;
what doth
it profit?
Behold,
the hire
of the labourers
who have reaped
down your fields,
which is of you
kept
back by fraud,
crieth:
and the cries
of them
which have reaped
are entered
into the ears
of the Lord
of sabaoth.
But
whoso
hath
this world's good,
and seeth
his brother
have need,
and shutteth up his bowels
of compassion
from him,
how dwelleth the love
of God in him?
My little children,
let us
not love in word,
neither in tongue;
but in deed
and in truth.
And hereby
we know
that we
are of the truth,
and shall assure
our hearts
before him.