Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. Speak up for the rights of all those who are poor.

你当为哑巴开口，为一切孤独的伸冤。

你当为不能自辩的人开口，为所有孤独无助者伸冤。

你当为不能自辩的人开口，为所有孤独无助者伸冤。

要为不能自辩者说话，为一切不幸的人申冤。

你要为不能自辩的人开口说话，为所有贫苦的人伸冤。

你当为哑巴和所有孤苦人的争讼开口。

你當為啞巴開口，為一切孤獨的伸冤。

你當為不能自辯的人開口，為所有孤獨無助者伸冤。

你當為不能自辯的人開口，為所有孤獨無助者伸冤。

要為不能自辯者說話，為一切不幸的人伸冤。

你要為不能自辯的人開口說話，為所有貧苦的人伸冤。

你要為啞巴開口，為一切行將過去的人辦案件；

你當為啞巴和所有孤苦人的爭訟開口。

當為喑啞者啟口、為孤獨者伸冤、

喑者代為口、危者伸其冤。

爾當為不敢自辨者不敢自辨者原文作瘖者啟口、為一切孤獨者伸冤、

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.

Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak, For the rights of all the unfortunate.

Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.

Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying.

Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

Stand up for the weak and for children whose fathers have died. Protect the rights of people who are poor or treated badly.Save those who are weak and needy. Save them from the power of sinful people.

Save those who are being led away to death. Hold back those who are about to be killed.Don’t say,“ But we didn’t know anything about this.” Doesn’t the God who knows what you are thinking see it? Doesn’t the God who guards your life know it? He will pay back everyone for what they have done.

In spite of that, Ahikam stood up for Jeremiah. Ahikam was the son of Shaphan. Because of Ahikam, Jeremiah wasn’t handed over to the people to be put to death.

Then the officials and all the people spoke to the priests and prophets. They said,“ This man shouldn’t be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”Some of the elders of the land stepped forward. They spoke to the whole community gathered there. They said,“ Micah from Moresheth prophesied. It was during the time Hezekiah was king over Judah. Micah spoke to all the people of Judah. He told them,‘ The Lord who rules over all says,“‘ “Zion will be plowed up like a field. Jerusalem will be turned into a pile of trash. The temple hill will be covered with bushes and weeds.” ’( Micah 3:12)Did King Hezekiah or anyone else in Judah put Micah to death? Hezekiah had respect for the Lord and tried to please him. And the Lord didn’t judge Jerusalem as he said he would. He didn’t bring on it the trouble he said he would bring. But we are about to bring horrible trouble on ourselves!”

Ahimelek answered the king,“ David is faithful to you. In fact, he’s more faithful to you than anyone else who serves you. He’s your own son- in- law. He’s the captain of your own personal guards. He’s highly respected by everyone in your palace.Was that day the first time I asked God a question for him? Of course not! Please don’t bring charges against me. Please don’t bring charges against anyone in my family. I don’t know anything at all about this whole matter.”

“ Does our law find a man guilty without hearing him first? Doesn’t it want to find out what he is doing?”

Ebed- Melek was an official in the royal palace. He was from the land of Cush. He heard that Jeremiah had been put into the well. The king was sitting by the Benjamin Gate at that time.Ebed- Melek went out of the palace. He said to the king,“ My king and master, everything these men have done to Jeremiah the prophet is evil. They have thrown him into an empty well. Soon there won’t be any more bread in the city. Then he’ll starve to death.”So the king gave an order to Ebed- Melek the Cushite. He said,“ Take with you 30 men from here. Lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the well before he dies.”

That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.

Wisdom is too high for foolish people. They shouldn’t speak when people meet at the city gate to conduct business.

Then he sent back an answer. He said,“ You live in the king’s palace. But don’t think that just because you are there you will be the only Jew who will escape.What if you don’t say anything at this time? Then help for the Jews will come from another place. But you and your family will die. Who knows? It’s possible that you became queen for a time just like this.”Then Esther sent a reply to Mordecai. She said,“ Go. Gather together all the Jews who are in Susa. And fast for my benefit. Don’t eat or drink anything for three days. Don’t do it night or day. I and my attendants will fast just as you do. Then I’ll go to the king. I’ll do it even though it’s against the law. And if I have to die, I’ll die.”

Jonathan told his father Saul some good things about David. He said to him,“ Please don’t do anything to harm David. He hasn’t done anything to harm you. And what he’s done has helped you a lot.He put his own life in danger when he killed Goliath. The Lord used him to win a great battle for the whole nation of Israel. When you saw it, you were glad. So why would you do anything to harm a man like David? He isn’t guilty of doing anything to harm you. Why would you want to kill him without any reason?”Saul paid attention to Jonathan. Saul made a promise. He said,“ You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that David will not be put to death.”So Jonathan sent for David and told him everything he and Saul had said. Then he brought David to Saul. David served Saul as he had done before.

Listen to the groans of the prisoners. Use your strong arm to save people sentenced to death.

The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.

“ Why do you want to put him to death?” Jonathan asked his father.“ What has he done?”