He cheats the poor, he robs, he keeps what a borrower gives him as security. He goes to pagan shrines, worships disgusting idols,

or oppress anyone or rob anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security. He feeds the hungry and gives clothing to the naked.

His father, on the other hand, cheated and robbed and always did evil to everyone. And so he died because of the sins he himself had committed.

Some of your people murder for pay. Some charge interest on the loans they make to other Israelites and get rich by taking advantage of them. They have forgotten me." The Sovereign LORD has spoken.

"I will bring my fist down on your robberies and murders.

The government officials are like wolves tearing apart the animals they have killed. They commit murder in order to get rich.

The wealthy cheat and rob. They mistreat the poor and take advantage of foreigners.

"Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner; remember that you were foreigners in Egypt.

If you do, I, the LORD, will answer them when they cry out to me for help,

"Do not mistreat a foreigner; you know how it feels to be a foreigner, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

"Be honest and just when you make decisions in legal cases; do not show favoritism to the poor or fear the rich.

So when you sell land to an Israelite or buy land, do not deal unfairly.

Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, accuse me now in the presence of the LORD and the king he has chosen. Have I taken anybody's cow or anybody's donkey? Have I cheated or oppressed anyone? Have I accepted a bribe from anyone? If I have done any of these things, I will pay back what I have taken."

The people answered, "No, you have not cheated us or oppressed us; you have not taken anything from anyone."

When any of my servants complained against me, I would listen and treat them fairly.

The same God who created me created my servants also.

or let orphans go hungry while I ate.

When I found someone in need, too poor to buy clothes,

If I have ever cheated an orphan, knowing I could win in court,

Don't be jealous of violent people or decide to act as they do,

If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.

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.

and learn to do right. See that justice is done---help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows."

Israel is the vineyard of the LORD Almighty; the people of Judah are the vines he planted. He expected them to do what was good, but instead they committed murder. He expected them to do what was right, but their victims cried out for justice.

You can survive if you say and do what is right. Don't use your power to cheat the poor and don't accept bribes. Don't join with those who plan to commit murder or to do other evil things.

"The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free.

Stop taking advantage of aliens, orphans, and widows. Stop killing innocent people in this land. Stop worshiping other gods, for that will destroy you.

If you change, I will let you go on living here in the land which I gave your ancestors as a permanent possession.

The LORD says, "The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and for this I will certainly punish them. They sell into slavery honest people who cannot pay their debts, the poor who cannot repay even the price of a pair of sandals.

Listen to this, you that trample on the needy and try to destroy the poor of the country.

We can sell worthless wheat at a high price. We'll find someone poor who can't pay his debts, not even the price of a pair of sandals, and we'll buy him as a slave."

How terrible it will be for those who lie awake and plan evil! When morning comes, as soon as they have the chance, they do the evil they planned.

yet you hate what is good and you love what is evil. You skin my people alive and tear the flesh off their bones.

"Long ago I gave these commands to my people: 'You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another.

"But my people stubbornly refused to listen. They closed their minds

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.

And now, you rich people, listen to me! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you!

Your gold and silver are covered with rust, and this rust will be a witness against you and will eat up your flesh like fire. You have piled up riches in these last days.

Your life here on earth has been full of luxury and pleasure. You have made yourselves fat for the day of slaughter.

for example, if he returns the security he took for a loan or gives back what he stole---if he stops sinning and follows the laws that give life, he will not die, but live.

If you take someone's cloak as a pledge that he will pay you, you must give it back to him before the sun sets,

If he is poor, do not keep it overnight;

return it to him each evening, so that he can have it to sleep in. Then he will be grateful, and the LORD your God will be pleased with you.

"Do not deprive foreigners and orphans of their rights; and do not take a widow's garment as security for a loan.

To make a brother repay you the money he owed, you took away his clothes and left him nothing to wear.

They take donkeys that belong to orphans, and keep a widow's ox till she pays her debts.

Evil people make slaves of fatherless infants and take the children of the poor in payment for debts.

At every place of worship people sleep on clothing that they have taken from the poor as security for debts. In the temple of their God they drink wine which they have taken from those who owe them money.

"Everything is in confusion ---the land is full of murders and the cities are full of violence.

but everyone else was evil in God's sight, and violence had spread everywhere.

God looked at the world and saw that it was evil, for the people were all living evil lives.

(SEE 59:5)

You are always planning something evil, and you can hardly wait to do it. You never hesitate to murder innocent people. You leave ruin and destruction wherever you go,

"I, the LORD, command you to do what is just and right. Protect the person who is being cheated from the one who is cheating him. Do not mistreat or oppress aliens, orphans, or widows; and do not kill innocent people in this holy place.

He gave the poor a fair trial, and all went well with him. That is what it means to know the LORD.

But you can only see your selfish interests; you kill the innocent and violently oppress your people. The LORD has spoken.

The LORD says, "These people fill their mansions with things taken by crime and violence. They don't even know how to be honest.

You have oppressed the poor and robbed them of their grain. And so you will not live in the fine stone houses you build or drink wine from the beautiful vineyards you plant.

I know how terrible your sins are and how many crimes you have committed. You persecute good people, take bribes, and prevent the poor from getting justice in the courts.

You refuse to admit that a day of disaster is coming, but what you do only brings that day closer.

I will punish all who worship like pagans and who steal and kill in order to fill their master's house with loot.

or oppress anyone or rob anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security. He feeds the hungry and gives clothing to the naked.

"If in any of the towns in the land that the LORD your God is giving you there are Israelites in need, then do not be selfish and refuse to help them.

Do not refuse to lend them something, just because the year when debts are canceled is near. Do not let such an evil thought enter your mind. If you refuse to make the loan, they will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be held guilty.

There will always be some Israelites who are poor and in need, and so I command you to be generous to them.

I have never refused to help the poor; never have I let widows live in despair

All my life I have taken care of them.

I would give him clothing made of wool that had come from my own flock of sheep. Then he would praise me with all his heart.

Happy are those who are concerned for the poor; the LORD will help them when they are in trouble.

Light shines in the darkness for good people, for those who are merciful, kind, and just.

He gives generously to the needy, and his kindness never fails; he will be powerful and respected.

Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer.

Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.

If you get rich by charging interest and taking advantage of people, your wealth will go to someone who is kind to the poor.

Give to the poor and you will never be in need. If you close your eyes to the poor, many people will curse you.

Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.

When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond. "If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word;

And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry.

Then the King will say to the people on his right, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world.

naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.'

When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you?

The King will reply, 'I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!'

I was hungry but you would not feed me, thirsty but you would not give me a drink;

Then they will answer him, 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and we would not help you?'

These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life."

He answered, "Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it."

You are so rich in all you have: in faith, speech, and knowledge, in your eagerness to help and in your love for us. And so we want you to be generous also in this service of love.

You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; rich as he was, he made himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by means of his poverty.

Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop.

And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.

And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity.

For this service you perform not only meets the needs of God's people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God.

And so with deep affection they will pray for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown you.

For God will not show mercy when he judges the person who has not been merciful; but mercy triumphs over judgment.

Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don't have enough to eat.

So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.

This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others!

My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.