Bible Verses About Justice

God loves justice and calls his people to do it. These verses about justice summon us to defend the vulnerable and act rightly.

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” — Isaiah 1:17 (KJV)

Learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Learn is the first verb, implying justice is a skill.

“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” — Proverbs 31:8-9 (KJV)

Open thy mouth for the dumb — advice given to a king by his mother. Those who cannot speak for themselves are named as the priority.

“But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” — Amos 5:24 (KJV)

Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream — said in a passage where God rejects the people's worship. Justice is demanded instead of festivals.

“Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” — Deuteronomy 16:19-20 (KJV)

Thou shalt not wrest judgment; a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise. The bribe is described by its effect rather than only forbidden.

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” — Psalm 82:3-4 (KJV)

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. The psalm addresses judges and accuses them of failing at exactly this.

“Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.” — Jeremiah 22:3 (KJV)

Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor. Spoken to a royal house, at the palace gate.

“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” — Proverbs 21:3 (KJV)

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Ritual and justice are ranked, not balanced.

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.” — Leviticus 19:15 (KJV)

Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty. Partiality is forbidden in both directions, which is easily forgotten.

“Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” — Psalm 89:14 (KJV)

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne — the foundation of God's rule rather than a policy of it. Mercy and truth go before his face in the same verse.

“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!” — Isaiah 10:1-2 (KJV)

Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees — the condemnation falls on lawmakers, not lawbreakers. Injustice here is legal.

“Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.” — James 5:4 (KJV)

The hire of the labourers who have reaped your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth. Withheld wages are described as making a sound.

“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.” — Proverbs 17:15 (KJV)

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. Both directions of a corrupt verdict are named.

“For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.” — Isaiah 61:8 (KJV)

For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering. God's own preference is stated as the ground of the demand.

“Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.” — Exodus 23:6 (KJV)

Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause — the poor are singled out as the likeliest to be cheated by a court. The law anticipates the pattern.

“I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.” — Psalm 140:12 (KJV)

The LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Maintaining a cause is legal representation language.

“And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” — Zechariah 7:10 (KJV)

Oppress not the widow, the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor — four categories, given to people asking whether to keep fasting. The answer redirects religion toward neighbours.

Carry these verses with you

Save and revisit these verses anytime with Quiethaven — read the whole Bible offline, get a verse of the day on your lock screen, and turn reading into prayer.

Keep Scripture close — free on iPhone.

Download on the App Store

More verses by topic

From the blog

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about justice?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on justice: Isaiah 1:17, Proverbs 31:8-9, Amos 5:24, Deuteronomy 16:19-20, Psalm 82:3-4, Jeremiah 22:3, Proverbs 21:3, Leviticus 19:15, Psalm 89:14, Isaiah 10:1-2, James 5:4, Proverbs 17:15, Isaiah 61:8, Exodus 23:6…

What is a good Bible verse about justice?

Isaiah 1:17 is the passage most often quoted on justice, with Proverbs 31:8-9 and Amos 5:24 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these justice verses?

You can read all of these verses about justice — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.