King James Bible
"Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy."
God commands rulers to actively protect society's most vulnerable members—those lacking economic power and orphans without family advocates. In ancient Near Eastern culture, where family networks provided security, the fatherless faced extreme vulnerability to exploitation. This parallel command emphasizes delivering fair verdicts and tangible help to those suffering hardship. The Hebrew concept of justice (mishpat) involves both legal fairness and restorative action, making this a call to correct systemic wrongs rather than merely avoid bias.