The richrulesover the poor,And the borrower[becomes] the lender'sslave.
Now a certainwomanof the wivesof the sonsof the prophetscriedout to Elisha,"Your servantmy husbandis dead,and you knowthat your servantfearedthe LORD;and the creditorhas cometo takemy twochildrento be his slaves."
He who oppressesthe poortauntshis Maker,But he who is graciousto the needyhonorsHim.
The poormanutterssupplications,But the richmananswersroughly.
He who oppressesthe poorto makemorefor himself Or who givesto the rich,[will] only[come to] poverty.
Do not robthe poorbecausehe is poor,Or crushthe afflictedat the gate;
And the peoplewill be like the priest,the servantlike his master,the maidlike her mistress,the buyerlike the seller,the lenderlike the borrower,the creditorlike the debtor.
Thussaysthe LORD,"For threetransgressionsof Israeland for fourI will not revokeits [punishment], Becausethey sellthe righteousfor moneyAnd the needyfor a pair of sandals.
Hearthisword,you cowsof Bashanwhoare on the mountainof Samaria,Who oppressthe poor,who crushthe needy,Who sayto your husbands,"Bringnow, that we may drink!"
Hearthis,you who tramplethe needy,to doawaywith the humbleof the land,
So as to buythe helplessfor moneyAnd the needyfor a pair of sandals,And [that] we may sellthe refuseof the wheat?"
"But since he did not have[the means] to repay,his lordcommandedhim to be sold,alongwith his wifeand childrenand allthat he had,and repayment to be made.
But you have dishonoredthe poor man.Is it not the richwho oppressyou and personallydragyou into court?
Comenow,you rich,weepand howlfor your miserieswhich are comingupon you.
Behold,the payof the laborerswho mowedyour fields,[and] which has been withheldby you, criesout [against you]; and the outcryof thosewho did the harvestinghas reachedthe earsof the Lordof Sabaoth.
