August 11th, Santa Clare’s feast is also Lawyers’ day in Brazil: today we are beginning the publication of biblical quotations that enlighten the notion of Justice. We are going to discover that it is very intimately linked with God, the unique just judge  “who will repay everyone according to his works” (Romans 2, 6).

Let’s begin with the Psalms.

“Therefore the wicked will not arise at the judgment,
nor will sinners in the assembly of the just.
Because the LORD knows the way of the just.” (Psalm 1:5,6)

“Au jugement les méchants ne se lèveront pas, ni les pécheurs au rassemblement des justes. Le Seigneur connaît le chemin des justes.” (Ps 1, 5-6)

“And now, kings, give heed; take warning, judges on earth.
Serve the LORD with fear; exult with trembling.” (Psalm 2:10,11)

“Answer me when I call, my saving God.
When troubles hem me in, set me free; take pity on me, hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:2)

“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 4:5)

“Lord, guide me in your justice because of my foes; make straight your way before me.
For there is no sincerity in their mouth; their heart is corrupt. Their throat* is an open grave; on their tongue are subtle lies.
Declare them guilty, God; make them fall by their own devices. Drive them out for their many sins; for they have rebelled against you.” (Psalm 5:9-11)

“Then all who trust in you will be glad and forever shout for joy. You will protect them and those will rejoice in you who love your name.
For you, LORD, bless the just one;
you surround him with favor like a shield.” (Psalm 5:12-13)

“Away from me, all who do evil!
The Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea; the LORD will receive my prayer.” (Psalm 6:9-10)

“Rise up, LORD, in your anger; be aroused against the outrages of my oppressors.
Stir up the justice, my God, you have commanded.
Have the assembly of the peoples gather about you; and return on high above them, the LORD will pass judgment on the peoples.” (Psalm7, 7-9)

“Judge me, LORD, according to my righteousness, and my integrity.” (Psalm7:9)

“Let the malice of the wicked end. Uphold the just one, O just God, who tries hearts and minds. God is a shield above me saving the upright of heart. God is a just judge.” (Psalm7:10-12)

“I will thank the Lord in accordance with his justice; I will sing the name of the Lord Most High.” (Psalm 7:18)

“For you upheld my right and my cause, seated on your throne, judging justly.” (Psalm 9:5)

“The LORD rules forever, he has set up his throne for judgment.
It is he who judges the world with justice, who judges the peoples with fairness.  The LORD is revealed in making judgments: by the deeds they do the wicked are trapped. To Sheol the wicked will depart, all the nations that forget God. For the needy will never be forgotten, nor will the hope of the afflicted ever fade.” (Psalm 9:17-19)

“Arise, LORD, let no mortal prevail; let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, LORD; show the nations they are only human. The wicked even boast of their greed; these robbers curse and scorn the Lord. In their insolence the wicked boast: “God does not care; there is no God.” Yet their affairs always succeed; they ignore your judgment on high; they sneer at all who oppose them.” (Psalm 10:4-5)

“You listen, LORD, to the needs of the poor; you strengthen their heart and incline your ear. You win justice for the orphaned and oppressed; no one on earth will cause terror again.” (Psalm 10:17-18)

“The LORD is just and loves just deeds; the upright will see his face.” (Psalm 11:7)

“LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart;
Who does not slander with his tongue, does no harm to a friend, never defames a neighbor;
Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD;
Who keeps an oath despite the cost, lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent.
Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken.” (Psalm 14:1-5)

“Hear, LORD, my plea for justice; pay heed to my cry; Listen to my prayer from lips without guile.” (Psalm 17:1)

“I am just—let me see your face; when I awake, let me be filled with your presence.” (Psalm 17:15)

“The LORD acknowledged my righteousness, rewarded my clean hands.
For I kept the ways of the LORD; I was not disloyal to my God.
For his laws were all before me, his decrees I did not cast aside.
I was honest toward him; I was on guard against sin.
So the LORD rewarded my righteousness, the cleanness of my hands in his sight.” (Psalm 18:20-24)

“The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The statutes of the LORD are true, all of them just;
More desirable than gold, than a hoard of purest gold,
sweeter also than honey or drippings from the comb.” (Psalm 19, 8-11)

“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nation will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive.
Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.
They will proclaim his righteousness,  declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!” (Psalm 22:28-31)

“The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul.
He guides me along paths of righteousness for the sake of his name.” (Psalm 23:1-3)

“Who may go up the mountain of the LORD?
Who can stand in his holy place?
The clean of hand and pure of heart, who has not given his soul to useless things, what is vain.
He will receive blessings from the LORD, and justice from his saving God.” (Psalm 24:1-3)

“Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he shows sinners the way,
He guides the humble in righteousness, and teaches the humble his way.” (Psalm 25:8-9)

“In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me; incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me!” (Psalm 31:2-4)

“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; exult, all you upright of heart.” (Psalm 32:11)

“Rejoice, you righteous, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise.
Sing to him a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant.
For the LORD’s word is upright; all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right.
The earth is full of the mercy of the LORD.” (Psalm33:1-5)

“The eyes of the LORD are directed toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
The LORD’s face is against evildoers to wipe out their memory from the earth.
The righteous cry out, the LORD hears and he rescues them from all their afflictions.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.
Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken.i
Evil will slay the wicked; those who hate the righteous are condemned.” (Psalm 34:16-22)

“Awake, be vigilant in my defense, in my cause, my God and my Lord.
Defend me because you are just, Lord, my God.” (Psalm 35:23-24)

“Let those who favor my just cause shout for joy and be glad.
May they ever say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in the peace of his loyal servant.”
Then my tongue shall recount your justice, declare your praise, all the day long.” (Psalm 35:27-28)

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“Your justice is like the highest mountains; your judgments, like the mighty deep; human being and beast you sustain, Lord.
How precious is your mercy, O God!” (Psalm 36:7-8)

“Show mercy on those who know you, your just defense to the upright of heart.
Do not let the foot of the proud overtake me, nor the hand of the wicked disturb me.” (Psalm 36:11-12)

“When I sing of your righteousness in a great assembly, see, I do not restrain my lips; as you, LORD, know.” (Psalm 40:10)

“I do not conceal your righteousness within my heart; I speak of your loyalty and your salvation. I do not hide your mercy or faithfulness from a great assembly.” (Psalm 40:11)

“Grant me justice, O God; defend me from a faithless people; from the deceitful and unjust rescue me.” (Psalm 43:1)

“In the cause of truth, meekness, and justice may your right hand show your wondrous deeds.
Your arrows are sharp; peoples will cower at your feet; the king’s enemies will lose heart.” (Psalm 45:5-6)

“Your throne, O God, stands forever; your royal scepter is a scepter for justice.
You love justice and hate wrongdoing; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellow kings.” (Psalm 45:7-8)

“Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.” (Psalm 48:11)

“Why should I fear in evil days, with the iniquity of my assailants surrounding me? He calls to the heavens above and to the earth to judge his people: “Gather my loyal ones to me, those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is the judge.” (Psalm 50,4-6)

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51, 1-2)

“Against you, you alone have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your eyes so that you are just in your word, and without reproach in your judgment.
Behold, I was born in guilt.” (Psalm 51, 6-7)

“Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities.
A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.” (Psalm 51, 11-12)

“Rescue me from violent bloodshed, God, my saving God, and my tongue will sing joyfully of your justice.” (Psalm 51, 16)

“My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.
Treat Zion kindly according to your good will; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will desire the sacrifices of the just, burnt offering and whole offerings; then they will offer up young bulls on your altar.” (Psalm 51, 19-21)