Let’s be honest: being taken advantage of hurts. Whether it’s a friend who only calls when they need something, a family member who exploits your generosity, a coworker who takes credit for your work, or someone who manipulates your kindness, it leaves you feeling used, foolish, and angry.
You want to be loving and gracious like Jesus taught, but you also wonder if there’s a line between being kind and being a doormat. The Bible doesn’t shy away from this tension.
Scripture is filled with stories of people being exploited, deceived, and mistreated. Joseph was sold by his brothers. David was hunted by the king he served faithfully. Jesus Himself was betrayed by someone He called friend.
But here’s what’s remarkable: the Bible gives us both permission to set boundaries and wisdom on how to respond when people cross them.
God sees when others take advantage of you. He notices the injustice, the manipulation, the broken trust. But His response isn’t always what we expect. Sometimes He calls us to confront.
Sometimes to forgive. Sometimes to walk away. And always, always, to trust that He’s the ultimate defender of those who are wronged.
These verses will help you navigate that complicated space between grace and wisdom, between turning the other cheek and protecting yourself from continued harm.
Bible Verses About Someone Taking Advantage of You
- Proverbs 22:22-23
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
- Psalm 37:5-6
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
- Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
- Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
- Luke 6:27-28
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
- Psalm 103:6
The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
- Proverbs 14:31
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
- Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
- Zechariah 7:10
And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
- Proverbs 22:16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
- James 5:4
Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
- Psalm 12:5
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
- Proverbs 28:3
A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
- Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
- Proverbs 20:17
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
- 1 Corinthians 6:7-8
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
- Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
- Proverbs 29:13
The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the Lord lighteneth both their eyes.
- Exodus 22:21-22
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
- Psalm 140:12
I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
- Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
- Proverbs 16:8
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
- Jeremiah 22:3
Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
- Psalm 9:9
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
- 2 Corinthians 7:2
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
- Leviticus 19:13
Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
- Psalm 146:7
Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners.
- Proverbs 21:13
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
- Isaiah 10:1-2
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
- Amos 5:12
For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
- Matthew 23:14
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
- Proverbs 3:27-28
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
- Romans 13:10
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Our Summary on What The Bible Says About Someone Taking Advantage of You
The Bible’s stance on exploitation is crystal clear: God absolutely hates it. From cover to cover, Scripture condemns those who take advantage of others, especially the vulnerable.
Whether it’s withholding wages, oppressing the poor, manipulating the weak, or defrauding your neighbor, God sees it all and promises to be the avenger for those who’ve been wronged.
But here’s where it gets nuanced. While God commands justice and condemns exploitation, He also calls His followers to a higher standard of response.
We’re told to love our enemies, pray for those who use us, and sometimes even willingly suffer wrong rather than retaliate.
That doesn’t mean becoming a perpetual victim or enabling toxic behavior. It means we don’t let someone else’s sin turn us into bitter, vengeful people.
The key is this: God wants us to trust Him as our defender while we maintain healthy boundaries.
You can forgive someone and still refuse to let them exploit you again. You can pray for someone while protecting yourself from their manipulation.
You can love your enemies without funding their destructive habits or tolerating their abuse.
God’s ultimate promise is that He will bring justice. Those who take advantage of others will answer to Him.
Your job isn’t to orchestrate their downfall; it’s to walk in integrity, set wise boundaries, and trust that God sees everything and will make things right in His time.
Say This Prayer for Someone Taking Advantage of You
Lord, You know exactly what’s been happening. You’ve seen how I’ve been used, manipulated, and taken advantage of. It hurts, and honestly, I’m struggling between wanting to show grace and wanting to protect myself from being hurt again.
Give me Your wisdom to know the difference between being loving and being foolish. Help me set healthy boundaries without bitterness. Show me when to confront, when to walk away, and when to simply trust You to defend me.
Heal the wounds that betrayal and exploitation have left behind. Cleanse my heart of any desire for revenge, and replace it with Your peace.
I’m choosing to release this situation into Your hands. You’re the righteous Judge, and I trust You to bring justice in Your way and Your timing.
Help me forgive without enabling, love without being naive, and move forward with wisdom. Guard my heart from becoming hard or cynical because of what’s happened. In Jesus’ name, Amen.