defending

⁸But if anyone has no concern for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and he is worse than an unbeliever.

¹A Psalm of David versus Goliath. Blessed is the Lord, my God, who trains my hands for the battle and my fingers for the war.

²⁶The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.

³⁸You have heard that it was said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil, but if anyone will have struck you on your right cheek, offer to him the other also.

⁸Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through. ⁹Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.

¹⁹Do not defend yourselves, dearest ones. Instead, step aside from wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is mine. I shall give retribution, says the Lord.”

²If a thief will have been discovered breaking into a house, or digging under it, and he has received a mortal wound, he who struck him down will not be guilty of blood. ³But if he did this when the sun was risen, he has perpetrated a homicide, and he shall die. If he does not have the means to make restitution for the theft, he shall be sold.

⁴For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil.

³⁶And they said, “Nothing.” Then he said to them: “But now, let whoever has money take it, and likewise with provisions. And whoever does not have these, let him sell his coat and buy a sword.

¹¹Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.

³⁰Then Jesus, taking this up, said: “A certain man descended from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he happened upon robbers, who now also plundered him. And inflicting him with wounds, they went away, leaving him behind, half-alive. ³¹And it happened that a certain priest was descending along the same way. And seeing him, he passed by. ³²And similarly a Levite, when he was near the place, also saw him, and he passed by. ³³But a certain Samaritan, being on a journey, came near him. And seeing him, he was moved by mercy. ³⁴And approaching him, he bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. And setting him on his pack animal, he brought him to an inn, and he took care of him. ³⁵And the next day, he took out two denarii, and he gave them to the proprietor, and he said: ‘Take care of him. And whatever extra you will have spent, I will repay to you at my return.’

⁵²Then Jesus said to him: “Put your sword back in its place. For all who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. ⁵³Or do you think that I cannot ask my Father, so that he would give me, even now, more than twelve legions of Angels? ⁵⁴How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must be so?”