Lexicon :: Strong's G3993 - penēs

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

“You must not deny justice to a poor person among you in his lawsuit.

“For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘Open your hand willingly to your poor and needy brother in your land.’

“Do not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether one of your Israelite brothers or one of the resident aliens in a town[fn] in your land.

He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the trash heap.

He seats them with noblemen

and gives them a throne of honor.[fn]

For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;

he has set the world on them.

So the LORD sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him:

There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised her, and she grew up with him and with his children. From his meager food she would eat, from his cup she would drink, and in his arms she would sleep. She was like a daughter to him.

but caused the poor to cry out to him,

and he heard the outcry of the needy.

The LORD is a refuge for the persecuted,

a refuge in times of trouble.

For the one who seeks an accounting

for bloodshed remembers them;

he does not forget the cry of the oppressed.

For the needy will not always be forgotten;

the hope of the oppressed[fn] will not perish forever.

He waits in ambush near settlements;

he kills the innocent in secret places.

His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;

So he is oppressed and beaten down;

helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength.

Rise up, LORD God! Lift up your hand.

Do not forget the oppressed.

LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble;

you will strengthen their hearts.

You will listen carefully,

The LORD is in his holy temple;

the LORD ​— ​his throne is in heaven.

His eyes watch;

his gaze[fn] examines everyone.[fn]

“Because of the devastation of the needy

and the groaning of the poor,

I will now rise up,” says the LORD.

“I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”

The humble will eat and be satisfied;

those who seek the LORD will praise him.

May your hearts live forever!

All my bones will say,

“LORD, who is like you,

rescuing the poor from one too strong for him,

the poor or the needy from one who robs him? ”

The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the[fn] bow

to bring down the poor and needy

and to slaughter those whose way is upright.

I am oppressed and needy;

may the Lord think of me.

You are my helper and my deliverer;

my God, do not delay.

Happy is one who is considerate of the poor;

the LORD will save him in a day of adversity.

both low and high,

rich and poor together.

For the LORD listens to the needy

and does not despise

his own who are prisoners.

I am oppressed and needy;

hurry to me, God.

You are my help and my deliverer;

LORD, do not delay.

May he vindicate the afflicted among the people,

help the poor,

and crush the oppressor.

For he will rescue the poor who cry out

and the afflicted who have no helper.

Do not give to beasts the life of your dove;[fn]

do not forget the lives of your poor people forever.

Do not let the oppressed turn away in shame;

let the poor and needy praise your name.

“Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;

uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.

Listen, LORD, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.

But he lifts the needy out of their suffering

and makes their families multiply like flocks.

For he did not think to show kindness,

but pursued the suffering, needy, and brokenhearted

in order to put them to death.

For I am suffering and needy;

my heart is wounded within me.

For he stands at the right hand of the needy

to save him from those who would condemn him.

He distributes freely to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.

His horn will be exalted in honor.

He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the trash heap

I[fn] know that the LORD upholds

the just cause of the poor,

justice for the needy.

The one who despises his neighbor sins,

but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.

The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,

but one who is kind to the needy honors him.

Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,

and giving to the rich ​— ​both lead only to poverty.

Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,

and don’t crush the oppressed at the city gate,

Don’t wear yourself out to get rich;

because you know better, stop!

A rich person is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor one who has discernment sees through him.

There is a generation whose teeth are swords,

whose fangs are knives,

devouring the oppressed from the land

and the needy from among mankind.

Speak up, judge righteously,

and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.