71 Bible Verses about ethics, social

Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.

Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge its state shall be prolonged.

The king by justice establishes the land: but he that receives bribes overthrows it.

In righteousness shall you be established: you shall be far from oppression; for you shall not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near you.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

That they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

[A Psalm of Solomon.] Give the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness unto the king's son.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

You shall not revile God, nor curse the ruler of your people.

And the man that will act presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and you shall put away the evil from Israel.

And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, You did blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.

My son, fear the LORD and the king: and associate not with them that are given to change:

Then said Paul, I knew not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

Therefore you must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience's sake.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

They said unto him, Caesar's. Then said he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him.

And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's.

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.

At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates:

Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;

However, lest we should offend them, go to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first comes up; and when you have opened its mouth, you shall find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and you.

For, for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

You shall not pervert judgment; you shall not show partiality, neither take a bribe: for a bribe does blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shall you follow, that you may live, and inherit the land which the LORD your God gives you.

He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

And you shall take no bribe: for the bribe blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.

You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: you shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

Cursed be he that perverts the justice due the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Learn to do good; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write misfortune which they have prescribed;

Thus says the LORD, Keep justice, and do righteousness: for my salvation is soon to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

I charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

If there be among you a poor man of one of your brethren within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother: But you shall open your hand wide unto him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he lacks. Beware that there be not a thought in your wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cries unto the LORD against you, and it be sin in you.

And if your brother becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you; then you shall help him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with you.

And if the man be poor, you shall not sleep with his pledge:

He that has pity upon the poor lends unto the LORD; and that which he has given will he pay him again.

Jesus said unto him, If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet you lack one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute unto the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

But rather give alms of such things as you have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

Sell what you have, and give alms; provide yourselves purses which grow not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts.

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was eager to do.

And you have respect to him that wears the fine clothing, and say unto him, Sit here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand there, or sit here under my footstool: Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

When you have finished tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled;

But the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie still; that the poor of your people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner you shall deal with your vineyard, and with your oliveyard.

And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.

And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not completely reap the corners of your field when you reap, neither shall you gather any gleaning of your harvest: you shall leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in the darkness, and your darkness be as the noon day:

Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away without food, lest they faint in the way.

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for some of them came from far.

He answered and said unto them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do likewise.

Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink:

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

You shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

Also you shall not oppress a stranger: for you know the heart of a stranger, seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

If your brother becomes poor, and has sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.

You shall not pervert the justice due the stranger, nor the fatherless; nor take a widow's clothing as pledge:

[To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.] Blessed is he that considers the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.