Laws About Social Justice

Exodus 22

16 If a man seduces a virgin not betrothed and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to become his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equivalent to the dowry of virgins.

18 You shall not allow a woman to live who practices sorcery.

19 Whoever lies carnally with a beast shall surely be put to death.

20 He who sacrifices to any god but the Lord only shall be utterly destroyed.

21 You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them in any way and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And My wrath shall burn; I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless.

25 If you lend money to any of My people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor, neither shall you require interest from him. 26 If you ever take your neighbor's garment in pledge, you shall give it back to him before the sun goes down; 27 For that is his only covering, his clothing for his body. In what shall he sleep? When he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious and merciful.

28 You shall not revile God [the judges as His agents] or esteem lightly or curse a ruler of your people.

29 You shall not delay to bring to Me from the fullness [of your harvested grain] and the outflow [of your grape juice and olive oil]; give Me the firstborn of your sons [or redeem them]. 30 Likewise shall you do with your oxen and your sheep. Seven days the firstborn [beast] shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 And you shall be holy men [consecrated] to Me; therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Exodus 23

1 YOU SHALL not repeat or raise a false report; you shall not join with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you bear witness at a trial so as to side with a multitude to pervert justice. 3 Neither shall you be partial to a poor man in his trial [just because he is poor].

4 If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying [helpless] under his load, you shall refrain from leaving the man to cope with it alone; you shall help him to release the animal.

6 You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his cause. 7 Keep far from a false matter and [be very careful] not to condemn to death the innocent and the righteous, for I will not justify and acquit the wicked. 8 You shall take no bribe, for the bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the testimony and the cause of the righteous.

9 Also you shall not oppress a temporary resident, for you know the heart of a stranger and sojourner, seeing you were strangers and sojourners in Egypt.

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
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