Jeremiah 5:28

5:28 That is how ¹  they have grown fat and sleek. ² 

There is no limit to the evil things they do. ³ 

They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it.

They do not defend the rights of the poor.

Jeremiah 22:3

22:3 The Lord says, “Do what is just and right. Deliver those who have been robbed from those ⁴  who oppress them. Do not exploit or mistreat foreigners who live in your land, children who have no fathers, or widows. ⁵  Do not kill innocent people ⁶  in this land.

Jeremiah 22:16

22:16 He upheld the cause of the poor and needy.

So things went well for Judah.’ ⁷ 

The Lord says,

‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’ ⁸ 

James 1:27

1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before ⁹  God the Father ¹⁰  is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

[5:28]  ¹ tn These words are not in the text but are supplied in the translation to show that this line is parallel with the preceding.

[5:28]  ² tn The meaning of this word is uncertain. This verb occurs only here. The lexicons generally relate it to the word translated “plate” in Song 5:14 and understand it to mean “smooth, shiny” (so BDB 799 s.v. I עֶשֶׁת) or “fat” (so HALOT 850 s.v. II עֶשֶׁת). The word in Song 5:14 more likely means “smooth” than “plate” (so TEV). So “sleek” is most likely here.

[5:28]  ³ tn Heb “they cross over/transgress with respect to matters of evil.”

[22:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “from the hand [or power] of.”

[22:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “aliens, orphans, or widows” treating the terms as generic or collective. However, the term “alien” carries faulty connotations and the term “orphan” is not totally appropriate because the Hebrew term does not necessarily mean that both parents have died.

[22:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “Do not shed innocent blood.”

[22:16]  ⁷ tn The words “for Judah” are not in the text, but the absence of the preposition plus object as in the preceding verse suggests that this is a more general statement, i.e., “things went well for everyone.”

[22:16]  ⁸ tn Heb “Is that not what it means to know me.” The question is rhetorical and expects a positive answer. It is translated in the light of the context.

[1:27]  ⁹ tn Or “in the sight of”; Grk “with.”

[1:27]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “the God and Father.”