Lord, You tell us that the earth is Yours because You made it, and from that we learn that producing something is the basis of ownership. You also tell us to respect others’ property—not only that we don’t steal it, but also that we don’t harm it, but instead act to preserve it securely as their own. You demonstrate justice to us in that You render to everyone his due. But today there are many who pervert the meaning of justice so as to violate property rather than preserve it. Not to each his due, but to each his demand, seems to be the idea behind “social justice” today. People seem to think that any inequality of income or wealth is itself unjust, though Your Word clearly enough teaches that You are the maker of rich and poor alike, that You cause some to prosper and others not, and that there are patterns of life that You bless and others that You curse. Restore to our generation, we pray, a right understanding of justice, as revealed in Your Word, as rendering to each his due in accord with the right standard of Your moral law. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.