Bible Verses About Oppression

For thus says Adonai ELOHIM: "Long ago my people went down to Egypt to live there as aliens, and Ashur oppressed them for no reason.

"Here is the sort of fast I want - releasing those unjustly bound, untying the thongs of the yoke, letting the oppressed go free, breaking every yoke,

house of David, this is what ADONAI says: "Judge fairly every morning, rescue the wronged from their oppressors; or my fury will lash out like fire, burning so hot that no one can quench it, because of how evil your actions are."

"In contrast, your eyes and heart are controlled entirely by your greed, your desire for shedding innocent blood, oppressing and extorting."

But their redeemer is strong; ADONAI-Tzva'ot is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, so that he can give rest to the land but unrest to those who live in Bavel.

In you, they make light of fathers and mothers, they oppress foreigners, they wrong orphans and widows.

The people of the land have extorted, robbed, wronged the poor and needy and unjustly oppressed foreigners.

Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'Princes of Isra'el, that should be enough for you! Get rid of violence and looting, do what is right and just, and stop evicting my people from their land!' says Adonai ELOHIM.

"Listen, you [lovely] cows of Bashan, who live on Mount Shomron, who oppress the poor and grind down the needy, who say to their husbands, 'Bring something to drink':

Therefore, because you trample on the poor and extort from them levies of grain; although you have built houses of cut stone, you will not live in them; and though you have planted pleasant vineyards, you will not drink their wine.

For I know how numerous are your crimes and how outrageous your sins - bullying the innocent, extorting ransoms pushing the poor aside at the gate.

Listen, you who swallow the needy and destroy the poor of the land!

You say, "When will Rosh-Hodesh be over, so we can market our grain? and Shabbat, so we can sell wheat?" You measure the grain in a small eifah, but the silver in heavy shekels, fixing the scales, so that you can cheat,

buying the needy for money and the poor for a pair of shoes, and sweeping up the refuse of the wheat to sell!"

Woe to those who think up evil and plan wickedness as they lie in bed. When morning comes, they do it, since they have it in their power.

They covet fields and seize them; they take over houses as well, doing violence to both owner and house, to people and their inherited land.

Therefore this is what ADONAI says: "Against this family I am planning an evil from which you will not withdraw your necks; nor will you walk with your heads held high, for it will be an evil time."

Truly, wine is treacherous; the arrogant will not live at peace but keeps expanding his desires like Sh'ol; like death, he can never be satisfied; he keeps collecting all the nations for himself, rallying to himself all the peoples.

Won't all these take up taunting him and say about him, in mocking riddles, 'Woe to him who amasses other people's wealth! how long must it go on? and to him who adds to himself the weight of goods taken in pledge!

Won't your own creditors suddenly stand, won't those who make you tremble wake up? You will become their spoil.

Because you plundered many nations, all the rest of the peoples will plunder you; because of the bloodshed and violence done to the land, the city and all who live there.

"'Woe to him who seeks unjust gain for his household, putting his nest on the heights, in order to be safe from the reach of harm.

By scheming to destroy many peoples, you have brought shame to your house and forfeited your life.

For the very stones will cry out from the wall, and a beam in the framework will answer them.

Don't oppress widows, orphans, foreigners or poor people. Don't plot evil against each other.'