Verse 4

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Neh 5:1-9 : 1 There arose a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, 'We, along with our sons and daughters, are numerous. Let us get grain that we may eat and stay alive.' 3 Others were saying, 'We have had to mortgage our fields, vineyards, and houses to get grain during the famine.' 4 Still others were saying, 'We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.' 5 'Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Israelites, and our children are just like theirs, we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, and we are powerless to do anything about it, since our fields and vineyards now belong to others.' 6 When I heard their outcry and these words, I became extremely angry. 7 I took counsel with myself, and then I confronted the nobles and officials, saying to them, 'You are exacting interest from your own people!' So I called together a large assembly to deal with them. 8 I said to them, 'We have redeemed our fellow Jews who were sold to the nations, as much as we were able. Now, you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!' They stayed silent, unable to say a word. 9 Then I said, 'What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of the nations, our enemies?' 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending money and grain, but let us stop charging interest on them. 11 Return to them this very day their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, as well as the interest you are charging them—on the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil. 12 'We will give it back,' they responded, 'and we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.' Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, 'May God likewise shake out every man who does not uphold this promise from his home and his possessions. Let him be shaken out and left empty!' The entire assembly said, 'Amen,' and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
  • Job 5:15-16 : 15 He saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the strong. 16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
  • Job 29:12 : 12 Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper.
  • Job 29:16-17 : 16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of one I did not know. 17 I broke the jaws of the wicked and snatched the prey from his teeth.
  • Ps 72:12-14 : 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry for help, the poor who have no helper. 13 He will have compassion on the weak and the needy and will save the lives of the needy. 14 He will redeem their lives from oppression and violence, and their blood will be precious in his sight.
  • Prov 24:11-12 : 11 Rescue those being taken to death and hold back those stumbling toward slaughter, if you can. 12 If you say, 'We did not know about this,' won't the one who examines hearts perceive it? Won't the one who guards your soul know? He will repay everyone according to their deeds.
  • Ps 140:12 : 12 May slanderers not be established in the land; may evil hunt down violent men to their destruction.