Proverbs 22:23
For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Cross-references
Proverbs 22:16 warns oppressors of the poor will themselves come to want, similar to divine retribution for spoiling.
Proverbs 14:31 reinforces that oppressing the poor insults God, who defends them — the same divine advocacy.
Proverbs 21:7 warns that wicked robbery destroys the oppressors, mirroring God spoiling those who spoil the poor.
Psalm 35:1 opens with 'Plead my cause, O LORD' — the same language as God's action here for the oppressed.
Psalm 140:12 affirms the LORD maintains the cause of the afflicted — a direct echo of 'plead their cause'.
In Isaiah 33:1, the destroyer will be destroyed — the same poetic justice as Proverbs: those who despoil will be despoiled.
Psalm 68:5 depicts God as defender of the fatherless and widows — the same character as the advocate for the poor here.
Psalm 43:1 repeats the plea 'plead my cause', aligning with God's role as defender of the afflicted.
Psalm 35:10 describes God delivering the poor from the one who spoils them — identical to the promise here.
Psalm 12:5 shows God rising to protect the poor from oppression, reinforcing the same divine promise.
Jeremiah 50:34 says God will 'throughly plead their cause' — using the same phrase to promise justice against Babylon.
In Jeremiah 51:36, God says 'I will plead your cause' — the same phrase used in Proverbs for defending the oppressed against Babylon.
In 1 Samuel 25:39, David blesses God for pleading his cause against Nabal — a direct example of the principle here.
1 Samuel 24:15 has David explicitly saying 'plead my cause' — the same phrase used here for God defending the poor.
In 1 Samuel 24:12, David asks the LORD to judge and avenge him, echoing the same trust in God to defend the wronged.
In Micah 7:9, the repentant sinner trusts God to 'plead my cause' — echoing Proverbs' promise of divine advocacy for the oppressed.
In Habakkuk 2:8, those who plunder nations will themselves be plundered — mirroring Proverbs' reversal on oppressors.
In Malachi 3:5, God draws near to judge oppressors of the vulnerable — widows, orphans, workers — matching Proverbs' defense of the exploited.
1 Thessalonians 4:6 also teaches that the Lord punishes those who wrong others, directly echoing Proverbs' promise that God will take up the case of the exploited.
Amos 4:1 condemns oppressing the poor and crushing the needy, directly aligning with the warning in Proverbs.
Isaiah 51:22 explicitly says God pleads the cause of His people, identical language to the Lord pleading for the poor.
Isaiah 17:14 describes sudden destruction for those who spoil, echoing God spoiling the spoilers in Proverbs.
Isaiah 3:13 shows God rising to plead and judge, directly paralleling the Lord pleading the cause of the poor.
Psalm 146:7 declares God executes justice for the oppressed—identical theme of divine vindication.
Psalm 119:154 uses the same plea 'Plead my cause'—the psalmist asks for what God promises here.
Psalm 109:31 shows God standing at the needy’s right hand to save them—a parallel defense.
Psalm 103:6 affirms that the LORD works justice for all who are oppressed—the same divine action.
Job 36:6 states God gives the afflicted their right—directly parallel to pleading their cause.
Deuteronomy 24:17 extends the same protection to sojourners, fatherless, and widows—whom God defends.
Deuteronomy 24:15 shows the same principle: God hears the cry of the oppressed poor and holds the oppressor accountable.
In Exodus 22:23, God promises to hear the cry of mistreated widows and orphans — directly parallel to Proverbs' assurance that God pleads their cause.
Job 27:13 declares that oppressors receive a portion from God—echoing the retribution promised here.
Ezekiel 18:7 describes a righteous person who does not spoil or oppress, contrasting with the wicked who do.
Ezekiel 22:7 lists oppression of the fatherless and widow, the very injustice God defends against in Proverbs.
Job 20:19 describes the wicked crushing the poor—the very act that Proverbs says God will avenge.
Zechariah 7:10 commands not to oppress the vulnerable, reflecting the same concern for justice as Proverbs 22:23.
In Exodus 3:9, God hears the cry of oppressed Israel and acts — the same divine response to affliction promised in Proverbs.