For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, “Open your hand willingly to your poor and needy brother in your land.”
Be careful that there isn’t this wicked thought in your heart, “The seventh year, the year of cancelling debts, is near,” and you are stingy towards your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty.
‘If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your city gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your poor brother.
He told them, ‘Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. For whoever is least among you #– #this one is great.’
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the rubbish heap. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honour. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; he has set the world on them.
But you are a chosen race, ,, a royal priesthood, , a holy nation, , a people for his possession, , so that you may proclaim the praises ,, of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.