Justice, Mercy & the Poor
The God of the Bible loves justice and defends the poor, the orphan, and the widow. He calls his people to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with him. These verses stir compassion and action toward the vulnerable.
He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.
Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”
“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
“Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’