Righteous God, whose eye sees all that passes under heaven, instill in us a disgust for manipulation and extortion for profit and pleasure, that we would value justice and mercy as you do and use the goods and resources of this world for the good of all people and not merely ourselves, through Christ our redeemer, who sacrificed much for our sake and now lives with you and the Holy Spirit in joy forever. Amen.
‘Hear this, you who trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah smaller and the shekel heavier and practice deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and selling the sweepings of the wheat.” The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.’ – Amos 8:4-7