Solomon (And Lemuel's Mom) on Showing Mercy, Seeking Justice and Helping the Poor

ProverbsChapter 11o My son if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause..." 15 My son, do not walk with them, keep your feet from their path."Chapter 26 "For the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright, He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice, and he preserves the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice, and equity and every good course."Chapter 327 'Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,' when you have it with you."Chapter 616 "There are six things which the Lord hates, yes seven which are an abomination to Him. 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood."Chapter 8Wisdom speaking 20 "I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice."Chapter 111 "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight."17 "The merciful man does himself good, but the cruel man does himself harm."18 "The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward."24 "There is one who scatters yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due but it results only in want."25, "The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered."26 "He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it."27 "He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it will come to him."Chapter 125 "The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful."10 "A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel."Chapter 135 "A righteous man hates falsehood, but a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully."23 "Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice."Chapter 1420 "The poor is hated even by his neighbor, but those who love the rich are many."21 "He who despises his neighbor sins, but happy is he who is gracious to the poor."22 "Will they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good."31 "He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him."Chapter 1525 "The Lord will tear down the house of the proud, but He will establish the boundary of the widow."27 "He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live."Chapter 168 "Better is a little with righteousness, than great income with injustice."11 "A just balance and scales belong to the Lord, all the weights of the bag are his concern."19 "It is better to be of humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoils with the proud."Chapter 1713 "He who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house."15 "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord."23 "A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice."Chapter 185 "To show partiality to the wicked is not good, nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment."23 "The poor man utters supplications but the rich man answers roughly."Chapter 191 "Better is a poor man who walks in integrity, than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool."4 "Wealth adds man friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend."7 "All the brothers of a poor man hate him, how much more do his friends go far from him. He pursues them with words but they are gone."17 "He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed."22 "What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar."Chapter 2010 "Differing weights and differing measures, both of them are abominable to the Lord." (see v.20)Chapter 213 "To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord rather than sacrifice."7 "The violence of the wicked will drag them away, because they refuse to act with justice."13 "He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered."Chapter 229 "He who is generous will be blessed for he gives some of his food to the poor."22 "Do not rob the poor because he is poor or crush the afflicted at the gate, 23 For the Lord will plead their case, and take the life of those who rob them."Chapter 2411 "Deliver those who are being taken away to death and those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back. 12 If you say, 'See we did not know this,' Does He not consider it who weights the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your souls? And will He not render to man according to His work?"23 "These also are the sayings of the wise, 'To show partiality in judgment is not good."Chapter 2521 "If your enemey is hungry give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink."Chapter 284 "Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive with them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all things. 6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is crooked though he is rich."8 "He who increases his wealth by interest and usury, bather it for him who is gracious to the poor."15 "Like a roarying lion and a rushing bear is a wicked ruler over poor people. 16 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days."27 "He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses."Chapter 294 "The king gives stability to the land through justice, but a man who takes bribes overthrows it."7 "The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, the wicked does not understand such concern."27 "An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked."Chapter 318 "Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy."On the excellent wife, 20 "She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hand to the needy."