Injustice

“You must not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked to be a malicious witness.

“You must not follow a crowd in wrongdoing. Do not testify in a lawsuit and go along with a crowd to pervert justice.

Do not show favoritism to a poor person in his lawsuit.

Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent and the just, because I will not justify the guilty.

“Do not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly.

However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and would present my case to him.

He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.

He gives rain to the earth and sends water to the fields.

He sets the lowly on high, and mourners are lifted to safety.

He frustrates the schemes of the crafty so that they achieve no success.

He traps the wise in their craftiness so that the plans of the deceptive are quickly brought to an end.

They encounter darkness by day, and they grope at noon as if it were night.

He saves the needy from their sharp words and from the clutches of the powerful.

So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

Vindicate me, God, and champion my cause against an unfaithful nation; rescue me from the deceitful and unjust person.

“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just  — both are detestable to the LORD.

An unjust person is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.

If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them.

This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from his oppressor. Don’t exploit or brutalize the resident alien, the fatherless, or the widow. Don’t shed innocent blood in this place.

For if you conscientiously carry out this word, then kings sitting on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace riding on chariots and horses — they, their officers, and their people.

But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by myself  — this is the LORD’s declaration — that this house will become a ruin.’”

Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

The righteous LORD is in her; he does no wrong. He applies his justice morning by morning; he does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.