Primary Verses:

1. Deuteronomy 24:14-15

   • "Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:  At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto YHVH, and it be sin unto thee."

2. Leviticus 26:39-43

   • "And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:  But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:  And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.  For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.  Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God."

Supporting Verses:

3. Psalms 10:2

   • "The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined."

4. Proverbs 14:21

   • "He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he."

5. Psalms 14:31

   • "He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor."

6. Proverbs 17:5

   • "Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished."

7. Proverbs 21:13

   • "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."

8. Isaiah 10:1-2

   • "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;  To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!"

9. Zechariah 7:9-10

   • "Thus speaketh YHVH of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:  And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart."

10. James 2:13-17

    • "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."