EXOD663 Our Sages have said (Koheles Rabbah 1:13): "In a measure full of sins there is none more incriminating than that of theft." And one who aggrieves an orphan or a widow by stealing from them, or shaming them, or in any other way, incurs the penalty of death at the hands of Heaven. Similarly, judges who are in a position to rescue them from their oppressors and do not judge for the orphan and the widow incur the penalty of death, as it is written [this verse], after which it is written (ibid. :22): "If you afflict him in any way, he need but cry to me and I will hear his cry," (ibid.:23): "And my wrath will burn, and I will kill you by the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children, orphans." Measure for measure -- your wives, widows because of your affliction of widows; your children, orphans because of your affliction of orphans. And anyone who aggrieves any Jew transgresses a negative commandment, as it is written [Vayikra 25:17]: "Let one man not afflict his friend, but fear Hashem." The "affliction" here is affliction with words (Bava Metzia 58b), and our Rabbis of blessed memory have said (ibid. 59a): "All gates [of access to Hashem] are closed except that of [crying out] from affliction." Therefore, one must take great care not to cause suffering to this fellow, either in deed or in word.