Lexicon :: Strong's H3490 - yāṯôm

“You shall not pervert the justice due a stranger or an orphan, nor seize (impound) a widow’s garment as security [for a loan].

“[fn]When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf [of grain] in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, for the orphan, and for the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

“When you have finished [fn]paying all the tithe of your produce the third year, [which is] the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat within the gates of your cities and be satisfied.

‘Cursed is he who distorts (perverts) the justice due to a stranger, an orphan, and a widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

“You would cast lots (gamble) over the fatherless

And bargain away your friend.

“You have sent widows away empty-handed,

And the arms (strength) of the fatherless have been broken.

“They drive away the donkeys of the orphans;

They take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

“Others snatch the fatherless [infants] from the breast [to sell or make them slaves],

And against the poor they take a pledge [of clothing].

Because I rescued the poor who cried for help,

And the orphan who had no helper.

Or have eaten my morsel [of food] alone,

And did not share it with the orphan

If I have lifted my hand against the orphan,

Because I saw [that the judges would be] my help at the [council] gate,

You have seen it, for You have noted mischief and vexation (irritation) to take it into Your hand.

The unfortunate commits himself to You;

You are the helper of the fatherless.

To vindicate and obtain justice for the fatherless and the oppressed,

So that man who is of the earth will no longer terrify them.

A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows,

Is God in His holy habitation.

Vindicate the weak and fatherless;

Do justice and maintain the rights of the afflicted and destitute.

[fn]They kill the widow and the alien

And murder the fatherless.

Let his children be fatherless

And his wife a widow.

Let there be no one to extend kindness to him,

Nor let anyone be gracious to his fatherless children.

The LORD protects the strangers;

He supports the fatherless and the widow;

But He makes crooked the way of the wicked.

Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property]

And do not go into the fields of the fatherless [to take what is theirs],

Learn to do good.

Seek justice,

Rebuke the ruthless,

Defend the fatherless,

Plead for the [rights of the] widow [in court].

Your rulers are rebels

And companions of thieves;

Everyone loves bribes

And chases after gifts.

They do not defend the fatherless,

Nor does the widow’s cause come before them [instead they delay or turn a deaf ear].

Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men,

Nor does He have compassion on their fatherless or their widows;

For every one of them is godless and an evildoer,

And every mouth is speaking foolishness.

In spite of all this, God’s anger does not turn away

But His hand is still stretched out [in judgment].

So as to deprive the needy of justice

And rob the poor of My people of rightful claims,

So that widows may be their spoil

And that they may plunder the fatherless.

‘They are fat and they are sleek (prosperous),

They [fn]excel in acts of wickedness;

They do not plead the cause,

The cause of the orphan, so that they [the wicked] may prosper,

And they do not defend the rights of the poor.

“Leave your orphans behind; I will [do what is needed to] keep them alive.

And let [those who are] your widows trust and confide in Me.”

We have become orphans without a father;

Our mothers are like widows.

“Assyria will not save us;

We will not ride on horses [relying on military might],

Nor will we say again to [the idols who are] the work of our hands,

‘You are our gods.’

For in You [O LORD] the orphan finds love and compassion and mercy.”

“Then I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, and against those who oppress the laborer in his wages and widows and the fatherless, and against those who turn away the alien [from his right], and those who do not fear Me [with awe-filled reverence],” says the LORD of hosts.