James 2:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

James 2:6

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Do

General references

Exodus 23:6

Leviticus 19:15

Ecclesiastes 3:16

Bible References

Do

Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build.

The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.

"Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action," says the Lord. "I will provide the safety they so desperately desire."

The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich -- both end up only in poverty.

If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!

The Lord comes to pronounce judgment on the leaders of his people and their officials. He says, "It is you who have ruined the vineyard! You have stashed in your houses what you have stolen from the poor.

This is what the Lord says: "Because Israel has committed three covenant transgressions -- make that four! -- I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold the innocent for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals.

Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan who live on Mount Samaria! You oppress the poor; you crush the needy. You say to your husbands, "Bring us more to drink!"

Therefore, because you make the poor pay taxes on their crops and exact a grain tax from them, you will not live in the houses you built with chiseled stone, nor will you drink the wine from the fine vineyards you planted.

Listen to this, you who trample the needy, and do away with the destitute in the land.

I do not condone the use of rigged scales, or a bag of deceptive weights.

You pierce the heads of his warriors with a spear. They storm forward to scatter us; they shout with joy as if they were plundering the poor with no opposition.

You must not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, or the poor, nor should anyone secretly plot evil against his fellow human being.'

General references

"You must not turn away justice for your poor people in their lawsuits.

"'You must not deal unjustly in judgment: you must neither show partiality to the poor nor honor the rich. You must judge your fellow citizen fairly.

I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.