Do not cheat an Israelite, but obey the LORD your God.

"Do not rob or take advantage of anyone. Do not hold back the wages of someone you have hired, not even for one night.

They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgments; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions.

Always be fair and just, so that you will occupy the land that the LORD your God is giving you and so that you will continue to live there.

Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots, and he ruled the people of Israel with cruelty and violence for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help.

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."

This made Asa so angry with the prophet that he had him put in chains. It was at this same time that Asa began treating some of the people cruelly.

And now we are slaves in the land that you gave us, this fertile land which gives us food.

What the land produces goes to the kings that you put over us because we sinned. They do as they please with us and our livestock, and we are in deep distress!"

because they oppressed and neglected the poor and seized houses someone else had built.

Their greed is never satisfied.

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.

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

If you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor, your own cry for help will not be heard.

If you make gifts to rich people or oppress the poor to get rich, you will become poor yourself.

Someone in authority who oppresses poor people is like a driving rain that destroys the crops.

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

A ruler without good sense will be a cruel tyrant. One who hates dishonesty will rule a long time.

Don't be surprised when you see that the government oppresses the poor and denies them justice and their rights. Every official is protected by someone higher, and both are protected by still higher officials.

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

Moneylenders oppress my people, and their creditors cheat them. My people, your leaders are misleading you, so that you do not know which way to turn.

The LORD is bringing the elders and leaders of his people to judgment. He makes this accusation: "You have plundered vineyards, and your houses are full of what you have taken from the poor.

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.

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

None of you in the city honor your parents. You cheat foreigners and take advantage of widows and orphans.

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.

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.

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."

When they want fields, they seize them; when they want houses, they take them. No one's family or property is safe.

And so the LORD says, "I am planning to bring disaster on you, and you will not be able to escape it. You are going to find yourselves in trouble, and then you will not walk so proudly any more.

In the houses of evil people are treasures which they got dishonestly. They use false measures, a thing that I hate.

Your rich people exploit the poor, and all of you are liars.

They are all experts at doing evil. Officials and judges ask for bribes. The influential people tell them what they want, and so they scheme together.

Some soldiers also asked him, "What about us? What are we to do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your pay."

Instead, you yourselves wrong one another and rob one another, even other believers!

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.