Bible Society of South Africa

At work with God – Day 5

Fraud and cheating.

Bible text(s)

Deuteronomy 25

13-14“Do not cheat when you use weights and measures. 15Use true and honest weights and measures, so that you may live a long time in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 16The LORD hates people who cheat.

Deuteronomy 25:13-16GNBOpen in Bible reader

Proverbs 11

1The LORD hates people who use dishonest scales. He is happy with honest weights.

Proverbs 11:1GNBOpen in Bible reader

Proverbs 11

18Wicked people do not really gain anything, but if you do what is right, you are certain to be rewarded.

19Anyone who is determined to do right will live, but anyone who insists on doing wrong will die.

Proverbs 11:18-19GNBOpen in Bible reader

Leviticus 19

35“Do not cheat anyone by using false measures of length, weight, or quantity. 36Use honest scales, honest weights, and honest measures. I am the LORD your God, and I brought you out of Egypt. 37Obey all my laws and commands. I am the LORD.”

Leviticus 19:35-37GNBOpen in Bible reader

Amos 8

Israel's Doom

4Listen to this, you that trample on the needy and try to destroy the poor of the country. 5You say to yourselves, “We can hardly wait for the holy days to be over so that we can sell our corn. When will the Sabbath end, so that we can start selling again? Then we can overcharge, use false measures, and tamper with the scales to cheat our customers. 6We can sell worthless wheat at a high price. We'll find a poor person who can't pay his debts, not even the price of a pair of sandals, and we'll buy him as a slave.”

7The LORD, the God of Israel, has sworn, “I will never forget their evil deeds.

Amos 8:4-7GNBOpen in Bible reader

Micah 6

9It is wise to fear the LORD. He calls to the city, “Listen, you people who assemble in the city! 10In the houses of evil people are treasures which they got dishonestly. They use false measures, a thing that I hate. 11How can I forgive those who use false scales and weights? 12Your rich people exploit the poor, and all of you are liars. 13So I have already begun your ruin and destruction because of your sins. 14You will eat, but not be satisfied — in fact you will still be hungry. You will carry things off, but you will not be able to save them; anything you do save I will destroy in war.

Micah 6:9-14GNBOpen in Bible reader

Often we hear about people who charge for services they haven’t delivered or goods they have not supplied. In Biblical times, scales, weights and measures were important components in determining the price of goods.

That is what prompted the demand for honest weights and honest trading. Yet, we often hear about businesses that charge for goods they have not delivered or charge dishonest prices to the poor.

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