June 9 — Justice That Does Not Forget the Poor
SCRIPTURE READING:
Proverbs 19-21
SCRIPTURE:
Passage: Proverbs 19
¹ Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
² Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
³ The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
⁴ Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
⁵ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
⁶ Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
⁷ All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
⁸ He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
⁹ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
¹⁰ Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
¹¹ The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
¹² The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
¹³ A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
¹⁴ House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
¹⁵ Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
¹⁶ He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
¹⁷ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
¹⁸ Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
¹⁹ A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
²⁰ Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
²¹ There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
²² The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
²³ The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
²⁴ A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
²⁵ Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
²⁶ He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
²⁷ Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
²⁸ An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
Passage: Proverbs 20
¹ Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
² The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
³ It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
⁴ The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
⁵ Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
⁶ Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
⁷ The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
⁸ A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
⁹ Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
¹⁰ Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
¹¹ Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
¹² The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
¹³ Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
¹⁴ It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
¹⁵ There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
¹⁷ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
²² Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
²³ Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
²⁴ Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
²⁵ It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
²⁶ A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
²⁷ The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
²⁸ Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
³⁰ The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Passage: Proverbs 21
¹ The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
³ To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
⁴ An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
⁵ The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
⁶ The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
⁷ The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
⁸ The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
⁹ It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
¹¹ When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
¹² The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
¹³ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
¹⁵ It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
¹⁶ The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
¹⁷ He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
¹⁸ The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
¹⁹ It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
²⁰ There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
²¹ He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
²² A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
²³ Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
²⁴ Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
²⁵ The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
²⁶ He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
²⁸ A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
²⁹ A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
³⁰ There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
³¹ The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
DEVOTIONAL:
Proverbs 19 through 21 repeatedly turns our attention to the way wisdom treats people who cannot repay you. Compassion is not presented as an optional spiritual hobby; it is presented as part of righteousness. The chapters speak about the poor, the afflicted, and the vulnerable alongside warnings about laziness, deceit, and anger, showing that personal morality and social responsibility are not separate categories in God’s eyes.
In Israel’s covenant life, the LORD’s concern for the poor was embedded in the law: gleaning, fair weights, honest courts, and protection from exploitation. Proverbs assumes that kind of moral world. It warns that a person can gain money and still lose the soul. It also teaches that God sees how wealth is acquired and how it is used. Wisdom is learning to recognize that every neighbor bears God’s image, and that the LORD defends those the powerful can ignore.
One proverb says, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD.” That is a staggering claim. It means generosity is never wasted, even when the recipient cannot thank you properly. It means God Himself takes the loan as His own obligation. Proverbs is not promising that every act of mercy will lead to financial prosperity. It is promising something stronger: the LORD sees, and the LORD will repay in His time and way.
These chapters also emphasize the limits of human control. Many devices are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the LORD stands. Wisdom therefore includes humility, because justice without humility becomes self-righteousness. We can advocate for what is right and still be blind to our own sins. Proverbs calls us to pursue justice as repentant people, not as superior people.
Jesus fulfills the righteousness Proverbs describes by becoming the poor One for us. He identifies with the needy, welcomes the overlooked, and gives Himself for sinners who had nothing to offer. In His kingdom, mercy and justice meet at the cross. The gospel creates a people who do not give to earn God’s favor, but who give because they have already received grace.
In daily life, ask God to widen your vision. Notice the person who is easy to walk past. Practice generosity that is thoughtful rather than performative, and pursue honesty in your work and finances. In the church, let compassion be organized and personal, combining prayer, hospitality, and wise assistance. Wisdom is love that is both tender and discerning.
In U.S. civic life, the virtue of justice with compassion reflects God’s heart for the vulnerable. Pray for courts, social workers, foster families, and those serving the poor to have wisdom and endurance. Christians should show up as people who serve locally, give generously, and speak for the powerless without turning mercy into a slogan.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What does Proverbs assume about the relationship between personal righteousness and care for the vulnerable?
How does the idea of “lending unto the LORD” challenge your view of generosity?
Where are you tempted to pursue justice without humility, and what might repentance look like there?
How does Jesus’ identification with the needy reshape the way you engage both charity and justice?
PRAYER:
ADORATION:
Righteous LORD, You judge without partiality and show mercy to the lowly. Your compassion is not sentimental; it is active and faithful.
CONFESSION:
I confess that I have sometimes ignored need because it felt inconvenient, and I have sometimes judged others harshly while excusing myself. Forgive my coldness and my hypocrisy.
THANKSGIVING:
Thank You for Your grace in Christ, who welcomed me when I had nothing to offer. Thank You for the privilege of serving others as an overflow of Your mercy.
SUPPLICATION – GENERAL:
Open my eyes to needs around me and give me wisdom to respond faithfully. Train me to be generous, honest, and patient. Help our church serve the vulnerable with both compassion and discernment.
SUPPLICATION – U.S. / CIVIC:
Strengthen those who labor for justice in our communities, especially in courts, shelters, foster care, and local ministries. Protect the poor from exploitation, and guide leaders toward policies and practices that reflect truth and mercy.
SCRIPTURE: He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. Proverbs 19:17