Justice and Mercy in the Bible

16He said, Thus says Yahweh, Make this valley full of trenches.

17For thus says Yahweh, You shall not see wind, neither shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your animals.

18This is but a light thing in the sight of Yahweh: he will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.

19You shall strike every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.

20It happened in the morning, about the time of offering the offering, that behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

1Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant did fear Yahweh: and the creditor is come to take to him my two children to be bondservants.

2Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? tell me; what have you in the house? She said, Your handmaid has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil.

3Then he said, Go, borrow you vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

4You shall go in, and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour out into all those vessels; and you shall set aside that which is full.

5So she went from him, and shut the door on her and on her sons; they brought [the vessels] to her, and she poured out.

6It happened, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, Bring me yet a vessel. He said to her, There isn`t another vessel. The oil stayed.

7Then she came and told the man of God. He said, Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and live you and your sons of the rest.

14Then went he down, and dipped [himself] seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, please take a present from your servant.

18When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, Please smite this people with blindness. He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

19Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. He led them to Samaria.

20It happened, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Yahweh, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

21The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I strike them? shall I strike them?

22He answered, You shall not strike them: would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

23He prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

1Elisha said, Hear you the word of Yahweh: thus says Yahweh, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be [sold] for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

2Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, might this thing be? He said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it.

3Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

4If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall to the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

5They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they were come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no man there.

6For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come on us.

7Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

8When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried there silver, and gold, and clothing, and went and hid it; and they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried there also, and went and hid it.

9Then they said one to another, We aren`t doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we hold our peace: if we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us; now therefore come, let us go and tell the king`s household.

10So they came and called to the porter of the city; and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.

11He called the porters; and they told it to the king`s household within.

12The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.

13One of his servants answered, Please let some take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel who are consumed); and let us send and see.

14They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

15They went after them to the Jordan: and, behold, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king.

16The people went out, and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was [sold] for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of Yahweh.

17The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trod on him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.

16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil;

17learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18Come now, and let us reason together, says Yahweh: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land:

20but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.

21How is the faithful city become a prostitute! she who was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

22Your silver is become dross, your wine mixed with water.

23Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards: they don`t judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

24Therefore says the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of my adversaries, and avenge me of my enemies;

25and I will turn my hand on you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin;

26and I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning: afterward you shall be called The city of righteousness, a faithful town.

27Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.

18Therefore will Yahweh wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy on you: for Yahweh is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

7For the vineyard of Yahweh of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression; for righteousness, but, behold, a cry.

1Thus says Yahweh, Keep you justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

2Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.

6Isn`t this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

7Isn`t it to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your healing shall spring forth speedily; and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of Yahweh shall by your rearward.

9Then shall you call, and Yahweh will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly;

10and if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity be as the noonday;

20But, Yahweh of Hosts, who judge righteously, who try the heart and the mind, I shall see your vengeance on them; for to you have I revealed my cause.

14Thus says Yahweh against all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.

15It shall happen, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

1Righteous are you, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet would I reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously?

34Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: you did not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.

35Yet you said, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with you, because you say, I have not sinned.

1Run you back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places of it, if you can find a man, if there are any who does justly, who seeks truth; and I will pardon her.

26For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men.

27As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and grew rich.

28They are grew fat, they shine: yes, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they don`t plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy they don`t judge.

29Shall I not visit for these things? says Yahweh; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

5For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if you thoroughly execute justice between a man and his neighbor;

6if you don`t oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, and don`t shed innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your own hurt:

7then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, from of old even forevermore.

23Thus says Yahweh, Don`t let the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, don`t let the rich man glory in his riches;

24but let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am Yahweh who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says Yahweh.

52He has put down princes from their thrones. Has exalted the lowly.

53He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,

34came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, `Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.`

36Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"

37He said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

42But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and bypass justice and the love of God. You ought to have done these, and not to leave the other undone.

15He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man`s life doesn`t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."

10The multitudes asked him, "What then must we do?"

11He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise."

12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"

13He said to them, "Extort no more than that which is appointed you."

14Soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?" He said to them, "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages."

18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, Because he anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim release to the captives, Recovering of sight to the blind, To deliver those who are crushed,

19And to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

36Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.

13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, "Don`t cry."

14He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!"

15He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. He gave him to his mother.

1Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! when the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.

2They covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

1I said, Please hear, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice?

2you who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;

3who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.

4Then shall they cry to Yahweh, but he will not answer them; yes, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have worked evil in their doings.

6How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

7Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8He has showed you, man, what is good; and what does Yahweh require of you, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

9The voice of Yahweh cries to the city, and [the man of] wisdom will see your name: hear you the rod, and who has appointed it.

10Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a scant measure that is abominable?

11Shall I be pure with wicked balances, and with a bag of deceitful weights?

12For the rich men of it are full of violence, and the inhabitants of it have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

18Who is a God like you, that pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? he doesn`t retain his anger forever, because he delights in lovingkindness.

19He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

20You will perform the truth to Jacob, [and] the lovingkindness to Abraham, which you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

16The twenty-four elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshipped God,

17saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned.

18The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your servants, the prophets, their reward, as well as the saints, and those who fear your name, the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth."

3They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.

4Who wouldn`t fear you, Lord, And glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.

5I heard the angel of the waters saying, "You are righteous, who are and who were, you Holy One, because you judged this way.

6For they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this."

7I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments."

20Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, you apostles, and you prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her."

1After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God:

2for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, her who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand."

9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.

10They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

11There was given to each one of them a white robe. It was said to them that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, had been fulfilled.

14I told him, "My lord, you know." He said to me, "These are those who came out of the great oppression. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb`s blood.

15Therefore are they before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

16They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat;

17for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to living springs of waters. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

15When she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don`t reproach her.

16Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and don`t rebuke her.

2Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. She said to her, Go, my daughter.

8Then said Boaz to Ruth, Don`t you hear, my daughter? Don`t go to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.

9Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them: haven`t I charged the young men that they shall not touch you? and when you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

11Now, my daughter, don`t be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy woman.

1Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. He turned aside, and sat down.

2He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit you down here. They sat down.

9Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, You are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech`s, and all that was Chilion`s and Mahlon`s, of the hand of Naomi.

10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead not be cut off from among his brothers, and from the gate of his place: you are witnesses this day.