You asked

what current systems or practices inadvertently 'oppress' those without a voice in technology's design?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Proverbs 31:8-9

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are left desolate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”

This passage comes from the final chapter of the book of Proverbs, presented as advice given to King Lemuel by his mother. It instructs a ruler on the character and duties of a just leader, emphasizing the importance of advocating for the most vulnerable members of society.

What responsibility do those with a voice have to speak for those without one in the development of new technologies?

Then — the setting

Proverbs, primarily composed between the 10th and 6th centuries BCE, collects wisdom from various periods in ancient Israel. This specific passage (Proverbs 31:1-9) is presented as a 'lesson from King Lemuel's mother.' This maternal instruction to a king highlights that justice for the vulnerable was considered a foundational responsibility for rulers, a lesson passed down through generations. The 'mute,' 'desolate,' 'poor,' and 'needy' represent those lacking social standing, legal representation, or economic power, who were easily exploited within the societal structures of the time. The call to 'open your mouth' and 'judge righteously' is a direct charge to use power and authority to intervene on behalf of the marginalized, rather than to maintain the status quo or serve self-interest.

Across the Testaments

This Old Testament passage provides a direct command for those in positions of power to advocate for the voiceless. The New Testament echoes and amplifies this call through Jesus' teachings and the early Christian community's practices. Jesus consistently championed the marginalized, the sick, and the outcast (e.g., Luke 4:18-19, Matthew 25:31-46). The early church, as described in Acts, prioritized communal care and ensuring that no one was overlooked (Acts 4:32-35, Acts 6:1-7). While Proverbs gives a direct instruction for rulers, the New Testament extends this responsibility to all believers, urging them to embody compassion and justice for the vulnerable in their own communities and spheres of influence.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Isaiah 1:17
Calls for seeking justice, correcting oppression, and pleading for the widow and orphan.
Deuteronomy 24:17
Commands against perverting justice for the foreigner or the fatherless.
James 1:27
Defines pure religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress.

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