56 Bible Verses about Rights

Do not mistreat any widow or orphan.

When you lend money to any of my people who are poor, do not act like a moneylender and require him to pay interest. If you take someone's cloak as a pledge that he will pay you, you must give it back to him before the sunsets, for it is the only covering he has to keep him warm. What else can he sleep in? When he cries out to me for help, I will answer him because I am merciful.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you should not reap to the very corners of your field. You should not gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not glean your vineyard. Do not gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard. Leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am Jehovah your God.

He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.

A priest's slaves, bought with his own money or born in his home, may eat the food the priest receives.

When you buy a Hebrew slave he will be your slave for six years. In the seventh year he may leave as a free man without paying for his freedom. If he was single at the time you bought him he alone must be set free. If he was married at that time, both he and his wife must be given their freedom. If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children will belong to her master. He shall go out alone.read more.
What if the slave loves his wife and children so much that he will not leave without them? He must stand beside either the door or the doorpost at the place of worship. His owner will punch a small hole through one of his ears with a sharp metal rod. This makes him a slave for life.

If you buy Israelites (your own brothers) as slaves, you must set them free after six years. Do not send him away empty handed when you set him free. Supply him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat. Give to him as Jehovah your God has blessed you.read more.
Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah your God redeemed you. Therefore I command you this today! If he says to you: I will not leave you. If it is because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you, then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door. He will be your servant for a very long time. You should do likewise to your maidservant. It should not seem hard to you when you set him free. After all he has given you six years with double the service of a hired man. Jehovah your God will bless you in whatever you do.

When a man sells his daughter into slavery, she will not go free the way male slaves do. If she does not please the master who has chosen her as a wife, he must let her be bought back by one of her close relatives. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has treated her unfairly. If a man buys a female slave to give to his son, he should treat her like a daughter.read more.
If a man takes a second wife, he must continue to give his first wife the same amount of food and clothing and the same rights that she had before. If he fails to do any of these things, she should be given her freedom without cost.

Never mistreat a foreigner living in your land. Foreigners living among you will be like your own people. Love them as you love yourself, because you were foreigners living in Egypt. I am Jehovah your God.

Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner. Remember that you were foreigners in Egypt.

Do not glean your vineyard. Do not gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard. Leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am Jehovah your God.

Jehovah continued to speak to Moses: Tell the Israelites: When you cross the Jordan River and enter Canaan, select certain cities to be places of refuge. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may run to them.read more.
These cities will be places of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death. So anyone accused of murder will not have to die until he has had a trial in front of the community.

Moses set aside three cities on the east side of the Jordan. Those who unintentionally killed someone whom they had never hated could flee to one of these cities and save their lives.

Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say: Designate cities of refuge just as Moses directed. Anyone who kills someone accidentally and unintentionally may go there for a refuge from the avenger of blood.read more.
When you flee to one of these cities you must go to the place of judgment at the entrance to the city, and explain to the leaders what happened. Then they will let you into the city and give you a place to live in, so that you can stay there. If the one looking for revenge follows you there, the people of the city must not hand you over to that one. They must protect you because you killed the person accidentally and not out of anger. You may stay in the city until you have received a public trial and until the death of the man who is then the High Priest. Then you may go back home to your own town, from which you had run away.

Let the husband fulfill his marital duties to his wife and also the wife to her husband. The wife has no authority over her own body, but her husband does. Likewise also the husband has no authority over his own body, but his wife does. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent for a time. That way you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. Then come together again, that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

If a man marries a woman and has sex with her and then turns against her, he charges her with shameful deeds and publicly defames her. He says: 'When I had sex with this woman, I did not find proof of her virginity.' The girl's father and her mother must present evidence of the girl's virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.read more.
The girl's father shall say to the elders: I gave my daughter to be this man's wife, but he turned against her. He has charged her with shameful deeds. He says: 'I did not find your daughter to be a virgin. But this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city. The elders of that city shall take the man and chastise him, They will fine him a hundred shekels of silver. They will give it to the girl's father, because he publicly defamed a virgin of Israel. She will remain his wife. He may not divorce her all his days. On the other hand if this charge is true, that the girl was not found a virgin, they will take the girl to the doorway of her father's house. The men of her city shall stone her to death because she has committed an act of folly in Israel by playing the harlot in her father's house. You must purge the evil from among you.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the congregation, he being the savior of the body. The congregation is subject to Christ. Likewise let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.read more.
Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the congregation and gave himself up for it. This is so he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word. So he will be able to present the congregation to himself as a glorious congregation, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. It should be holy and without blemish. In this way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his own wife loves himself. No man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also does the congregation. And we are members of his body! For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and will stick (adhere) (cleave) (be joined) to his wife. The two will become one flesh. This secret is great! I speak with regard to Christ and of the congregation. Each one of you should love his own wife even as himself. The wife should respect her husband.

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing in the Lord.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land Jehovah your God gives you.

Honor your father and your mother, as Jehovah your God commands you and your days will be prolonged and things will go well with you, in the land Jehovah gives you.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show righteousness towards their own family, and to repay their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

Let no one become immoral or unspiritual like Esau. He sold his birthright for a single meal!

One day while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from hunting. He was hungry. He said to Jacob: I am starving! Give me some of that red stuff. (That is why he was named Edom.) Jacob answered: I will give it to you if you give me your birthright as the firstborn son.read more.
Esau said: All right! I am about to die. What good are rights as firstborn to me? Jacob answered: First make a vow that you will give me your birthright. Esau made the vow and gave his rights as firstborn to Jacob. Jacob gave him some bread and some of the soup. He ate and drank and then got up and left. Esau did not care about his birthright.

If a man have two wives and loves one more than the other. The first son of either wife is the man's first-born son, even if the boy's mother is the wife he does not love. A man near death and dividing up his property must give a double share to his first-born son. This is because he was the first to be born. The day he wills his possessions to his sons, he should not put the firstborn son of the loved wife before the firstborn son of the unloved wife. He should acknowledge the firstborn son of the unloved wife. And give him a double portion of all that he has. He is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of God.

He gave the right to become children of God to all who received him. Even to those who believe in his name.

He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the congregations! To him who overcomes I will give the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life that grows in the (Paradise) Garden of God.'

To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Blessed are those who obey his commandments. They have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city.

What is my reward then? When I preach the good news, I may offer the good news of Christ without charge. That is way I do not abuse my power in the good news.

Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, I most certainly am to you, for you are the seal (stamp) (proof) of my apostleship in the Lord. My answer (defense) to those who examine me is as follows:read more.
Do we have a right to eat and drink? Do we have a right to lead a sister as a wife just like other apostles, and as brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who do not have the right to refrain from secular work? Does a soldier serve at his own expense? Does the one who plants a vineyard not eat of the fruit it produces? Who shepherds a flock and does not eat some of the milk from the flock? I say this from a human point of view. Does the law say the same thing? It is written in the Law of Moses: You should not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads (threshes) out the grain. Does God care only about oxen? Or did he say it for our benefit? This is written for our benefit without a doubt! He who plows should plow in hope. Likewise he who threshes in hope should be a partaker of his hope. If we sow spiritual seed in you, is it too much if we reap material things? If others are partakers of the right over you, should we also partake? Nevertheless we have not used this power! We suffer all things, lest we should hinder the good news of Christ. Do you not know that they who minister about holy things live off the things of the temple? And they who wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so, has the Lord ordained that they who preach the good news should earn their living from the good news? But I have used none of these rights! Neither have I written these things, that it should be done to me. It would be better for me to die, than that any man should make my reason for boasting void. Though I preach the good news I do not brag about it. Preaching the good news is my duty (obligation) and I must do it! It would be terrible if I did not preach the good news! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward. But if I do it against my will, I am just performing the trust of the good news committed to me.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. For the scripture said: You must not muzzle the bull while he is threshing. The workman is worthy of his wages.

Do not dishonor your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the country will turn to prostitution and be filled with people who are perverted.

Release all debts at the end of every seven years. This is how you should release. Every man who has a loan to his neighbor shall release it. He shall not require it from his neighbor, or from his brother, because it is called Jehovah's release. You may collect from a foreigner, but your hand should release that debt which is yours with your brother.read more.
There should not be any poor people among you. Jehovah your God will certainly bless you in the land he is giving you as your own possession. He will bless you only if you listen carefully to Jehovah your God and faithfully obey all these commandments I give you today. Jehovah your God will bless you, as he promised. You will make loans to many nations. But you will not have to borrow from any of them. You will rule many nations. But no nation will ever rule over you.

One witness is not enough to convict someone of a crime, offense, or sin he may have committed. Cases must be settled based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

No land may be permanently bought or sold. It all belongs to me! It is not your land! You only live there for a little while. When property is sold, the original owner must be given the first chance to buy it. If any of you Israelites become so poor that you are forced to sell your property, your closest relative must buy it back.read more.
If that relative has the money. Later, if you can afford to buy it, you must pay enough to make up for what the present owner will lose on it before the next Year of Celebration, when the property would become yours again. If he cannot earn enough to buy it back, what he sold stays in the hands of the buyer until the year of jubilee. In the jubilee it will be released, and he will own it again. If anyone sells a home in a walled city, for one year after selling it he has the right to buy it back. He may buy it back only within that time. If he does not buy it back during that year, the house in the city belongs to the buyer for generations to come. It will not be released in the jubilee. Houses in villages without walls are regarded as belonging to the fields of the land. They can be bought back. They will be released in the jubilee. The Levites always have the right to buy back their property in the cities they own. If any Levite buys back a house, in the jubilee the purchased house in the city will be released. This is because the houses in the Levite cities are their property among the Israelites. But a field that belongs to their cities must not be sold, because it is their property from generation to generation. If an Israelite becomes poor and cannot support himself, you should help him. He must live with you as a stranger without a permanent home. Do not collect interest or make any profit from him. Respect your God by respecting other Israelites' lives. Do not collect any interest on your money or on the food you give them. I am Jehovah your God. I brought you out of Egypt to give you Canaan and to be your God. If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, do not work him like a slave. He will be like a hired worker or a visitor to you. He may work with you until the year of jubilee. Then you will release him and his children to go back to their family and the property of their ancestors. They are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. They must never be sold as slaves. Do not treat them harshly. Respect your God.

Do not rejoice against me, O my enemy! When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him. He will plead my cause, and execute judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light and I will see his righteousness. My enemy will see it and she will be filled with shame. She will ask: Where is Jehovah your God? My eyes will look upon her and she will be trampled down like the mire of the streets.

He executes justice for the orphan and the widow. He shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.

In his holy habitation God is a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows.

Do not remove the old landmark (boundry). And do not enter the field of the fatherless. Their redeemer is mighty. He will plead their cause with you.

How horrible it will be for those who enact unjust laws and who decree oppressive regulations. They deprive the poor of justice. They take away the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and rob orphans. What will you do on the day you are called to account for these things, when destruction comes from far away? Where will you run for help? Where will you leave your wealth?read more.
There is nothing left but to crouch among prisoners and to fall with those who are killed. Even after all this, his anger will not disappear. His hand is stretched out (he is still ready to use his power).

Wicked men are found among my people. They lie in ambush like bird catchers. They set traps and catch men. Like cages filled with birds, their houses are filled with deceit. That is why they become powerful and rich. They grow big and fat. Their evil deeds have no limits. They have no respect for the rights of others. They have no respect for the rights of orphans. But they still prosper. They do not defend the rights of the poor.read more.
I will punish them for these things, declares Jehovah. I will punish these people!

Jehovah said: I will not withdraw punishment for (three sins of Israel, even for four) the many transgressions of Israel! They sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes. They pant after the dust of the earth on the head of lowly (meek) persons. They reject the humble! A man and his father have sexual relations with the same maiden, to profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on clothes taken from indebtedness. In the house of their God they drink the wine they have confiscated.

([Prayers of David]) O God, give the king your justice. Give your righteousness to the royal son. He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.read more.
He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel; it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to desire strong drink. They will drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to those who are bitter.read more.
Let him drink and forget his poverty. Let him remember his misery no more. Open your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all who are appointed to destruction. Open your mouth and judge righteously. Plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Jehovah took you out of the land of Egypt with his great power and his outstretched arm. He is your God, to whom you are to give worship and make offerings:

Go away, Satan! demanded Jesus. It is written, It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.' (Deuteronomy 6:13-15)

Jesus answered: It is written, you shall worship Jehovah your God and him only shall you serve. (Deuteronomy 6:13-15; 10:12; 10:20) (Exodus 20:3-5)

You must respect Jehovah your God. Serve him and swear by his name!

God is a Spirit. They who worship him must worship him with spirit and truth.

Now, O Israel, what does Jehovah your God require from you? You are to respect Jehovah your God. Walk in all his ways and love him! Serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your being. Obey Jehovah's commandments and his statutes I am commanding you today for your good!

This day Jehovah your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your being. You declared Jehovah to be your God today. You said you would walk in his ways and keep his statutes, his commandments and his ordinances, and listen to his voice. Jehovah declared you to be his people and a treasured possession. Obey his commandments and receive his promise.

I command you today to Love Jehovah your God, follow his directions, and obey his commandments, laws, and rules. Then you will live, your population will increase, and Jehovah your God will bless you in the land that you are about to enter and possess.