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¹² Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
   and as generously as you can afford.
¹³ For the Lord is the one who repays,
   and he will repay you sevenfold.

Divine Justice

¹⁴ Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;
¹⁵   and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;
for the Lord is the judge,
   and with him there is no partiality.
¹⁶ He will not show partiality to the poor;
   but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
¹⁷ He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,
   or the widow when she pours out her complaint.

⁷ Although our iniquities testify against us,
   act, O Lord, for your name’s sake;
our apostasies indeed are many,
   and we have sinned against you.
⁸ O hope of Israel,
   its saviour in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
   like a traveller turning aside for the night?
⁹ Why should you be like someone confused,
   like a mighty warrior who cannot give help?
Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
   and we are called by your name;
   do not forsake us!

¹⁰ Thus says the Lord concerning this people:
Truly they have loved to wander,
   they have not restrained their feet;
therefore the Lord does not accept them,
   now he will remember their iniquity
   and punish their sins.

The People Plead for Mercy

¹⁹ Have you completely rejected Judah?
   Does your heart loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
   so that there is no healing for us?
We look for peace, but find no good;
   for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.
²⁰ We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
   the iniquity of our ancestors,
   for we have sinned against you.
²¹ Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
   do not dishonour your glorious throne;
   remember and do not break your covenant with us.
²² Can any idols of the nations bring rain?
   Or can the heavens give showers?
Is it not you, O Lord our God?
   We set our hope on you,
   for it is you who do all this.