This translation is from the New American Bible. Other translations are available here. Information about the original Hebrew meaning of what seem to be the key words is provided immediately below the scriptural text. Collections of scriptures dealing with similar principles are hyperlinked at the end of this post.
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Thus says the LORD:
"You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword;
then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans.
"If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him.
If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body. What else has he to sleep in? If he cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate."
Molest = יָנָה = yanah
to oppress, suppress, treat violently, maltreat, vex, do wrong;
Oppress = לָחַץ = lachats
to squeeze, press; afflict, crush, force, hold fast
Wrong = עָנָה = `anah
to afflict, oppress, humble, be afflicted, be bowed down; mishandle; hurt, ravish; abase, weaken; to bestow labor upon
Compassionate = חַנּוּן = channuwn
Gracious, benignant
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Wisdom Principles: Caring For the Weak & Vulnerable
Wisdom Principles--Don't Discriminate Against Foreigners
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