The LORD has revealed himself by his righteous judgments, and the wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering and are always ready to help. The helpless commit themselves to you; you have always helped the needy.

Break the power of wicked and evil people; punish them for the wrong they have done until they do it no more.

You will hear the cries of the oppressed and the orphans; you will judge in their favor, so that mortal men may cause terror no more.

"But now I will come," says the LORD, "because the needy are oppressed and the persecuted groan in pain. I will give them the security they long for."

May the king judge the poor fairly; may he help the needy and defeat their oppressors.

The LORD judges in favor of the oppressed and gives them their rights.

Don't take advantage of the poor just because you can; don't take advantage of those who stand helpless in court.

The LORD will argue their case for them and threaten the life of anyone who threatens theirs.

Never move an old property line or take over land owned by orphans.

The LORD is their powerful defender, and he will argue their case against you.

For you have broken the yoke that burdened them and the rod that beat their shoulders. You have defeated the nation that oppressed and exploited your people, just as you defeated the army of Midian long ago.

The LORD Almighty says, "I will appear among you to judge, and I will testify at once against those who practice magic, against adulterers, against those who give false testimony, those who cheat employees out of their wages, and those who take advantage of widows, orphans, and foreigners---against all who do not respect me.

He satisfies those who are thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

He gives food to every living creature; his love is eternal.

All living things look hopefully to you, and you give them food when they need it.

You give them enough and satisfy the needs of all.

I will fill the priests with the richest food and satisfy all the needs of my people. I, the LORD, have spoken."

He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.

They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets of what was left over.

He gives the lonely a home to live in and leads prisoners out into happy freedom, but rebels will have to live in a desolate land.

But he sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who had been sold as a slave.

until what he had predicted came true. The word of the LORD proved him right.

Some were living in gloom and darkness, prisoners suffering in chains,

He brought them out of their gloom and darkness and broke their chains in pieces.

He breaks down doors of bronze and smashes iron bars.

Set me free from my distress; then in the assembly of your people I will praise you because of your goodness to me.

The Sovereign LORD has filled me with his Spirit. He has chosen me and sent me To bring good news to the poor, To heal the broken-hearted, To announce release to captives And freedom to those in prison.

The LORD says, "Because of my covenant with you that was sealed by the blood of sacrifices, I will set your people free--- free from the waterless pit of exile.

Return, you exiles who now have hope; return to your place of safety. Now I tell you that I will repay you twice over with blessing for all you have suffered.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed

But that night an angel of the Lord opened the prison gates, led the apostles out, and said to them,

Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, which shook the prison to its foundations. At once all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners.