Joe Citizen

"Love your enemies. Blessed are the peacemakers. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:44; 5:9; 5:39.)

"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12.15.)

"He who trusts in his riches will fall, but like green leaves the just flourish." (Proverbs 11:28)

"Toil not to gain wealth, cease to be concerned about it." (Proverbs 23:4)

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.'" (Mark 12:41-43)

"He who confers benefits will be amply enriched, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Him who monopolizes grain, the people curse- but blessings upon the head of him who distributes it!" (Proverbs 11:25-6)

"If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Truly, I say unto you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. I repeat what I said: it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 19:21,23,24; 6:24.)

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD , and he will reward him for what he has done. If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." (Proverbs 19:17, 21:13, 22: 9)

"He who oppresses the poor blasphemes his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy glorifies him." (Proverbs 14:31)

"He who oppresses the poor to enrich himself will yield up his gains to the rich as sheer loss. Injure not the poor because they are poor, nor crush the needy at the gate; For the LORD will defend their cause, and will plunder the lives of those who plunder them. Open your mouth in behalf of the dumb, and for the rights of the destitute; Open your mouth, decree what is just, defend the needy and the poor!" (Proverbs 14:31, 22:16, 22-3, 31:8-9")

"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?" (Isaiah 10:1-3)

"The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just. But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands." (Isaiah 32:7,8)

"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers....Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?'" (Isaiah 58:3,6,7,10)

"When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:13,14.)

"If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it. Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty." (Exodus 23:5-7)

"Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin." (Deuteronomy 24:14,15)

"You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your offenses
and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts." (Amos 5:11,12)

"'Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor. Should I not punish them for this?' declares the LORD . 'Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?'" (Jeremiah 5:27-29)

" 'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.'" (Ezekiel 16:49)

"Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous. Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt." (Exodus 22:21,22; 23:8,9)