Colossians 4:1 And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don’t forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master—God in heaven.

4:1 MSG

Parallel Verses

The Message - And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don’t forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master—God in heaven.
新标点和合本 - 你们作主人的，要公公平平地待仆人，因为知道你们也有一位主在天上。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 你们作主人的，待仆人要公正，因为知道，你们也有一位主在天上。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 你们作主人的，待仆人要公正，因为知道，你们也有一位主在天上。
当代译本 - 你们做主人的，对待奴仆要公平合理，别忘了你们也有一位天上的主。
圣经新译本 - 你们作主人的，要公平地对待仆人，因为知道你们也有一位主在天上。
中文标准译本 - 你们做主人的，要公正、公平地对待奴仆，因为你们知道，你们也有一位主人在天上。
现代标点和合本 - 你们做主人的，要公公平平地待仆人，因为知道你们也有一位主在天上。
和合本（拼音版） - 你们作主人的，要公公平平地待仆人，因为知道你们也有一位主在天上。
New International Version - Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
New International Reader's Version - Masters, give your slaves what is right and fair. Do it because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
English Standard Version - Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
New Living Translation - Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.
Christian Standard Bible - Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.
New American Standard Bible - Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
New King James Version - Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Amplified Bible - Masters, [on your part] deal with your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
American Standard Version - Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
King James Version - Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
New English Translation - Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
World English Bible - Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
新標點和合本 - 你們作主人的，要公公平平地待僕人，因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 你們作主人的，待僕人要公正，因為知道，你們也有一位主在天上。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 你們作主人的，待僕人要公正，因為知道，你們也有一位主在天上。
當代譯本 - 你們作主人的，對待奴僕要公平合理，別忘了你們也有一位天上的主。
聖經新譯本 - 你們作主人的，要公平地對待僕人，因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。
呂振中譯本 - 做主人的，你們要以正義和公平待僕人，因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。
中文標準譯本 - 你們做主人的，要公正、公平地對待奴僕，因為你們知道，你們也有一位主人在天上。
現代標點和合本 - 你們做主人的，要公公平平地待僕人，因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。
文理和合譯本 - 主宜以公平待僕、知在天爾亦有主也、○
文理委辦譯本 - 主待僕以公平、知在天爾亦有主、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 爾為主人者、當待奴以公平、因知爾亦有主在天、○
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 主人之待其奴僕、務宜公平忠厚、應知爾在天亦自有一主也。
Nueva Versión Internacional - Amos, proporcionen a sus esclavos lo que es justo y equitativo, conscientes de que ustedes también tienen un Amo en el cielo.
현대인의 성경 - 주인 된 사람들은 하늘에도 자기 주인이 계신다는 것을 알고 종들을 공정하 고 정당하게 대우하십시오.
Новый Русский Перевод - И вы, господа, поступайте со своими рабами справедливо и достойно, помня о том, что и у вас есть Господин на небесах.
Восточный перевод - И вы, господа, поступайте со своими рабами справедливо и достойно, помня о том, что и у вас есть Господин на небесах.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - И вы, господа, поступайте со своими рабами справедливо и достойно, помня о том, что и у вас есть Господин на небесах.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - И вы, господа, поступайте со своими рабами справедливо и достойно, помня о том, что и у вас есть Господин на небесах.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Maîtres, traitez vos serviteurs avec justice et d’une manière équitable, car vous savez que vous avez, vous aussi, un Maître dans le ciel.
リビングバイブル - 奴隷の主人は、全員を正しく公平に扱いなさい。あなたがたにも天に主人がいて、その行動は全部見られているのです。
Nestle Aland 28 - Οἱ κύριοι, τὸ δίκαιον καὶ τὴν ἰσότητα τοῖς δούλοις παρέχεσθε, εἰδότες ὅτι καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔχετε κύριον ἐν οὐρανῷ.
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - οἱ κύριοι, τὸ δίκαιον καὶ τὴν ἰσότητα τοῖς δούλοις παρέχεσθε, εἰδότες ὅτι καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔχετε Κύριον ἐν οὐρανῷ.
Nova Versão Internacional - Senhores, deem aos seus escravos o que é justo e direito, sabendo que vocês também têm um Senhor nos céus.
Hoffnung für alle - Ihr Herren, behandelt eure Sklaven gerecht und anständig. Denkt immer daran, dass auch ihr einen Herrn im Himmel habt, dem ihr untersteht.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Người chủ hãy đối xử công bằng tử tế với tôi tớ mình. Đừng quên anh chị em cũng có Chủ trên trời đang xem xét hành động của anh chị em.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - เจ้านายทั้งหลายจงปฏิบัติต่อทาสของท่านอย่างถูกต้องและยุติธรรม เพราะท่านรู้อยู่ว่าท่านก็มีเจ้านายองค์หนึ่งในสวรรค์เช่นกัน
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ผู้เป็นเจ้านาย จงให้ความถูกต้องและความยุติธรรมแก่ทาสของท่าน เพราะท่านทราบว่า ท่านมีเจ้านายในสวรรค์ด้วย

Cross Reference

Isaiah 58:3 - “Well, here’s why: “The bottom line on your ‘fast days’ is profit. You drive your employees much too hard. You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist. The kind of fasting you do won’t get your prayers off the ground. Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like?
Matthew 23:8 - “Don’t let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of ‘Father’; you have only one Father, and he’s in heaven. And don’t let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
Jeremiah 34:11 - But a little while later, they reneged on the covenant, broke their promise and forced their former slaves to become slaves again.
Jeremiah 34:12 - Then Jeremiah received this Message from God: “God, the God of Israel, says, ‘I made a covenant with your ancestors when I delivered them out of their slavery in Egypt. At the time I made it clear: “At the end of seven years, each of you must free any fellow Hebrew who has had to sell himself to you. After he has served six years, set him free.” But your ancestors totally ignored me.
Jeremiah 34:15 - “‘And now, you—what have you done? First you turned back to the right way and did the right thing, decreeing freedom for your brothers and sisters—and you made it official in a solemn covenant in my Temple. And then you turned right around and broke your word, making a mockery of both me and the covenant, and made them all slaves again, these men and women you’d just set free. You forced them back into slavery.
Jeremiah 34:17 - “‘So here is what I, God, have to say: You have not obeyed me and set your brothers and sisters free. Here is what I’m going to do: I’m going to set you free—God’s Decree—free to get killed in war or by disease or by starvation. I’ll make you a spectacle of horror. People all over the world will take one look at you and shudder. Everyone who violated my covenant, who didn’t do what was solemnly promised in the covenant ceremony when they split the young bull into two halves and walked between them, all those people that day who walked between the two halves of the bull—leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, palace officials, priests, and all the rest of the people—I’m handing the lot of them over to their enemies who are out to kill them. Their dead bodies will be carrion food for vultures and stray dogs.
Leviticus 19:13 - “Don’t exploit your friend or rob him. “Don’t hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight.
Nehemiah 5:6 - I got really angry when I heard their protest and complaints. After thinking it over, I called the nobles and officials on the carpet. I said, “Each one of you is gouging his brother.”
Nehemiah 5:7 - Then I called a big meeting to deal with them. I told them, “We did everything we could to buy back our Jewish brothers who had to sell themselves as slaves to foreigners. And now you’re selling these same brothers back into debt slavery! Does that mean that we have to buy them back again?” They said nothing. What could they say?
Nehemiah 5:9 - “What you’re doing is wrong. Is there no fear of God left in you? Don’t you care what the nations around here, our enemies, think of you?
Nehemiah 5:10 - “I and my brothers and the people working for me have also loaned them money. But this gouging them with interest has to stop. Give them back their foreclosed fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes right now. And forgive your claims on their money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”
Nehemiah 5:12 - They said, “We’ll give it all back. We won’t make any more demands on them. We’ll do everything you say.” Then I called the priests together and made them promise to keep their word. Then I emptied my pockets, turning them inside out, and said, “So may God empty the pockets and house of everyone who doesn’t keep this promise—turned inside out and emptied.” Everyone gave a wholehearted “Yes, we’ll do it!” and praised God. And the people did what they promised.
Job 31:13 - “Have I ever been unfair to my employees when they brought a complaint to me? What, then, will I do when God confronts me? When God examines my books, what can I say? Didn’t the same God who made me, make them? Aren’t we all made of the same stuff, equals before God?
Isaiah 58:6 - “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’
Isaiah 58:9 - “If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people’s sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
Malachi 3:5 - “Yes, I’m on my way to visit you with Judgment. I’ll present compelling evidence against sorcerers, adulterers, liars, those who exploit workers, those who take advantage of widows and orphans, those who are inhospitable to the homeless—anyone and everyone who doesn’t honor me.” A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies. * * *
Luke 19:15 - “When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.
Deuteronomy 15:12 - If a Hebrew man or Hebrew woman was sold to you and has served you for six years, in the seventh year you must set him or her free, released into a free life. And when you set them free don’t send them off empty-handed. Provide them with some animals, plenty of bread and wine and oil. Load them with provisions from all the blessings with which God, your God, has blessed you. Don’t for a minute forget that you were once slaves in Egypt and God, your God, redeemed you from that slave world. For that reason, this day I command you to do this.
Matthew 24:48 - “But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it, and it won’t be pretty. He’ll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth chattering.”
James 5:4 - All the workers you’ve exploited and cheated cry out for judgment. The groans of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger. You’ve looted the earth and lived it up. But all you’ll have to show for it is a fatter than usual corpse. In fact, what you’ve done is condemn and murder perfectly good persons, who stand there and take it. * * *
Ecclesiastes 5:8 - Don’t be too upset when you see the poor kicked around, and justice and right violated all over the place. Exploitation filters down from one petty official to another. There’s no end to it, and nothing can be done about it. But the good earth doesn’t cheat anyone—even a bad king is honestly served by a field.
Leviticus 25:39 - “If one of your brothers becomes indigent and has to sell himself to you, don’t make him work as a slave. Treat him as a hired hand or a guest among you. He will work for you until the Jubilee, after which he and his children are set free to go back to his clan and his ancestral land. Because the People of Israel are my servants whom I brought out of Egypt, they must never be sold as slaves. Don’t tyrannize them; fear your God.
Deuteronomy 24:14 - Don’t abuse a laborer who is destitute and needy, whether he is a fellow Israelite or foreigner living in your land and in your city. Pay him at the end of each workday; he’s living from hand to mouth and needs it now. If you hold back his pay, he’ll protest to God and you’ll have sin on your books.
Luke 16:1 - Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.’
Luke 16:3 - “The manager said to himself, ‘What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as manager. I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg. . . . Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do . . . then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.’
Luke 16:5 - “Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
Luke 16:6 - “He replied, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ “The manager said, ‘Here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now—write fifty.’
Luke 16:7 - “To the next he said, ‘And you, what do you owe?’ “He answered, ‘A hundred sacks of wheat.’ “He said, ‘Take your bill, write in eighty.’
Luke 16:8 - “Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”
Luke 16:10 - Jesus went on to make these comments: If you’re honest in small things, you’ll be honest in big things; If you’re a crook in small things, you’ll be a crook in big things. If you’re not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store? No worker can serve two bosses: He’ll either hate the first and love the second Or adore the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and the Bank.
Ephesians 6:9 - Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.
Ephesians 6:10 - And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Ephesians 6:13 - Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Ephesians 6:19 - And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

Parallel Verses

Cross Reference

The Message - And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don’t forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master—God in heaven.
新标点和合本 - 你们作主人的，要公公平平地待仆人，因为知道你们也有一位主在天上。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 你们作主人的，待仆人要公正，因为知道，你们也有一位主在天上。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 你们作主人的，待仆人要公正，因为知道，你们也有一位主在天上。
当代译本 - 你们做主人的，对待奴仆要公平合理，别忘了你们也有一位天上的主。
圣经新译本 - 你们作主人的，要公平地对待仆人，因为知道你们也有一位主在天上。
中文标准译本 - 你们做主人的，要公正、公平地对待奴仆，因为你们知道，你们也有一位主人在天上。
现代标点和合本 - 你们做主人的，要公公平平地待仆人，因为知道你们也有一位主在天上。
和合本（拼音版） - 你们作主人的，要公公平平地待仆人，因为知道你们也有一位主在天上。
New International Version - Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
New International Reader's Version - Masters, give your slaves what is right and fair. Do it because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
English Standard Version - Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
New Living Translation - Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.
Christian Standard Bible - Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.
New American Standard Bible - Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
New King James Version - Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Amplified Bible - Masters, [on your part] deal with your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
American Standard Version - Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
King James Version - Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
New English Translation - Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
World English Bible - Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
新標點和合本 - 你們作主人的，要公公平平地待僕人，因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 你們作主人的，待僕人要公正，因為知道，你們也有一位主在天上。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 你們作主人的，待僕人要公正，因為知道，你們也有一位主在天上。
當代譯本 - 你們作主人的，對待奴僕要公平合理，別忘了你們也有一位天上的主。
聖經新譯本 - 你們作主人的，要公平地對待僕人，因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。
呂振中譯本 - 做主人的，你們要以正義和公平待僕人，因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。
中文標準譯本 - 你們做主人的，要公正、公平地對待奴僕，因為你們知道，你們也有一位主人在天上。
現代標點和合本 - 你們做主人的，要公公平平地待僕人，因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。
文理和合譯本 - 主宜以公平待僕、知在天爾亦有主也、○
文理委辦譯本 - 主待僕以公平、知在天爾亦有主、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 爾為主人者、當待奴以公平、因知爾亦有主在天、○
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 主人之待其奴僕、務宜公平忠厚、應知爾在天亦自有一主也。
Nueva Versión Internacional - Amos, proporcionen a sus esclavos lo que es justo y equitativo, conscientes de que ustedes también tienen un Amo en el cielo.
현대인의 성경 - 주인 된 사람들은 하늘에도 자기 주인이 계신다는 것을 알고 종들을 공정하 고 정당하게 대우하십시오.
Новый Русский Перевод - И вы, господа, поступайте со своими рабами справедливо и достойно, помня о том, что и у вас есть Господин на небесах.
Восточный перевод - И вы, господа, поступайте со своими рабами справедливо и достойно, помня о том, что и у вас есть Господин на небесах.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - И вы, господа, поступайте со своими рабами справедливо и достойно, помня о том, что и у вас есть Господин на небесах.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - И вы, господа, поступайте со своими рабами справедливо и достойно, помня о том, что и у вас есть Господин на небесах.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Maîtres, traitez vos serviteurs avec justice et d’une manière équitable, car vous savez que vous avez, vous aussi, un Maître dans le ciel.
リビングバイブル - 奴隷の主人は、全員を正しく公平に扱いなさい。あなたがたにも天に主人がいて、その行動は全部見られているのです。
Nestle Aland 28 - Οἱ κύριοι, τὸ δίκαιον καὶ τὴν ἰσότητα τοῖς δούλοις παρέχεσθε, εἰδότες ὅτι καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔχετε κύριον ἐν οὐρανῷ.
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - οἱ κύριοι, τὸ δίκαιον καὶ τὴν ἰσότητα τοῖς δούλοις παρέχεσθε, εἰδότες ὅτι καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔχετε Κύριον ἐν οὐρανῷ.
Nova Versão Internacional - Senhores, deem aos seus escravos o que é justo e direito, sabendo que vocês também têm um Senhor nos céus.
Hoffnung für alle - Ihr Herren, behandelt eure Sklaven gerecht und anständig. Denkt immer daran, dass auch ihr einen Herrn im Himmel habt, dem ihr untersteht.
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พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - เจ้านายทั้งหลายจงปฏิบัติต่อทาสของท่านอย่างถูกต้องและยุติธรรม เพราะท่านรู้อยู่ว่าท่านก็มีเจ้านายองค์หนึ่งในสวรรค์เช่นกัน
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ผู้เป็นเจ้านาย จงให้ความถูกต้องและความยุติธรรมแก่ทาสของท่าน เพราะท่านทราบว่า ท่านมีเจ้านายในสวรรค์ด้วย

Isaiah 58:3 - “Well, here’s why: “The bottom line on your ‘fast days’ is profit. You drive your employees much too hard. You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist. The kind of fasting you do won’t get your prayers off the ground. Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like?
Matthew 23:8 - “Don’t let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of ‘Father’; you have only one Father, and he’s in heaven. And don’t let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
Jeremiah 34:11 - But a little while later, they reneged on the covenant, broke their promise and forced their former slaves to become slaves again.
Jeremiah 34:12 - Then Jeremiah received this Message from God: “God, the God of Israel, says, ‘I made a covenant with your ancestors when I delivered them out of their slavery in Egypt. At the time I made it clear: “At the end of seven years, each of you must free any fellow Hebrew who has had to sell himself to you. After he has served six years, set him free.” But your ancestors totally ignored me.
Jeremiah 34:15 - “‘And now, you—what have you done? First you turned back to the right way and did the right thing, decreeing freedom for your brothers and sisters—and you made it official in a solemn covenant in my Temple. And then you turned right around and broke your word, making a mockery of both me and the covenant, and made them all slaves again, these men and women you’d just set free. You forced them back into slavery.
Jeremiah 34:17 - “‘So here is what I, God, have to say: You have not obeyed me and set your brothers and sisters free. Here is what I’m going to do: I’m going to set you free—God’s Decree—free to get killed in war or by disease or by starvation. I’ll make you a spectacle of horror. People all over the world will take one look at you and shudder. Everyone who violated my covenant, who didn’t do what was solemnly promised in the covenant ceremony when they split the young bull into two halves and walked between them, all those people that day who walked between the two halves of the bull—leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, palace officials, priests, and all the rest of the people—I’m handing the lot of them over to their enemies who are out to kill them. Their dead bodies will be carrion food for vultures and stray dogs.
Leviticus 19:13 - “Don’t exploit your friend or rob him. “Don’t hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight.
Nehemiah 5:6 - I got really angry when I heard their protest and complaints. After thinking it over, I called the nobles and officials on the carpet. I said, “Each one of you is gouging his brother.”
Nehemiah 5:7 - Then I called a big meeting to deal with them. I told them, “We did everything we could to buy back our Jewish brothers who had to sell themselves as slaves to foreigners. And now you’re selling these same brothers back into debt slavery! Does that mean that we have to buy them back again?” They said nothing. What could they say?
Nehemiah 5:9 - “What you’re doing is wrong. Is there no fear of God left in you? Don’t you care what the nations around here, our enemies, think of you?
Nehemiah 5:10 - “I and my brothers and the people working for me have also loaned them money. But this gouging them with interest has to stop. Give them back their foreclosed fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes right now. And forgive your claims on their money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”
Nehemiah 5:12 - They said, “We’ll give it all back. We won’t make any more demands on them. We’ll do everything you say.” Then I called the priests together and made them promise to keep their word. Then I emptied my pockets, turning them inside out, and said, “So may God empty the pockets and house of everyone who doesn’t keep this promise—turned inside out and emptied.” Everyone gave a wholehearted “Yes, we’ll do it!” and praised God. And the people did what they promised.
Job 31:13 - “Have I ever been unfair to my employees when they brought a complaint to me? What, then, will I do when God confronts me? When God examines my books, what can I say? Didn’t the same God who made me, make them? Aren’t we all made of the same stuff, equals before God?
Isaiah 58:6 - “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’
Isaiah 58:9 - “If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people’s sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
Malachi 3:5 - “Yes, I’m on my way to visit you with Judgment. I’ll present compelling evidence against sorcerers, adulterers, liars, those who exploit workers, those who take advantage of widows and orphans, those who are inhospitable to the homeless—anyone and everyone who doesn’t honor me.” A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies. * * *
Luke 19:15 - “When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.
Deuteronomy 15:12 - If a Hebrew man or Hebrew woman was sold to you and has served you for six years, in the seventh year you must set him or her free, released into a free life. And when you set them free don’t send them off empty-handed. Provide them with some animals, plenty of bread and wine and oil. Load them with provisions from all the blessings with which God, your God, has blessed you. Don’t for a minute forget that you were once slaves in Egypt and God, your God, redeemed you from that slave world. For that reason, this day I command you to do this.
Matthew 24:48 - “But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it, and it won’t be pretty. He’ll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth chattering.”
James 5:4 - All the workers you’ve exploited and cheated cry out for judgment. The groans of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger. You’ve looted the earth and lived it up. But all you’ll have to show for it is a fatter than usual corpse. In fact, what you’ve done is condemn and murder perfectly good persons, who stand there and take it. * * *
Ecclesiastes 5:8 - Don’t be too upset when you see the poor kicked around, and justice and right violated all over the place. Exploitation filters down from one petty official to another. There’s no end to it, and nothing can be done about it. But the good earth doesn’t cheat anyone—even a bad king is honestly served by a field.
Leviticus 25:39 - “If one of your brothers becomes indigent and has to sell himself to you, don’t make him work as a slave. Treat him as a hired hand or a guest among you. He will work for you until the Jubilee, after which he and his children are set free to go back to his clan and his ancestral land. Because the People of Israel are my servants whom I brought out of Egypt, they must never be sold as slaves. Don’t tyrannize them; fear your God.
Deuteronomy 24:14 - Don’t abuse a laborer who is destitute and needy, whether he is a fellow Israelite or foreigner living in your land and in your city. Pay him at the end of each workday; he’s living from hand to mouth and needs it now. If you hold back his pay, he’ll protest to God and you’ll have sin on your books.
Luke 16:1 - Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.’
Luke 16:3 - “The manager said to himself, ‘What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as manager. I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg. . . . Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do . . . then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.’
Luke 16:5 - “Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
Luke 16:6 - “He replied, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ “The manager said, ‘Here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now—write fifty.’
Luke 16:7 - “To the next he said, ‘And you, what do you owe?’ “He answered, ‘A hundred sacks of wheat.’ “He said, ‘Take your bill, write in eighty.’
Luke 16:8 - “Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”
Luke 16:10 - Jesus went on to make these comments: If you’re honest in small things, you’ll be honest in big things; If you’re a crook in small things, you’ll be a crook in big things. If you’re not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store? No worker can serve two bosses: He’ll either hate the first and love the second Or adore the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and the Bank.
Ephesians 6:9 - Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.
Ephesians 6:10 - And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Ephesians 6:13 - Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Ephesians 6:19 - And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.