The “Four Sins that Cry Out to Heaven for Vengeance” are serious sins described in Scripture as “crying out” to God for justice.
1) Murder
This is based off what God said to Cain after he murdered his brother Abel:
“The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” (Genesis 4.10)
2) The Sin of Sodom
This is based on what God said regarding the sins of the ancient city of Sodom:
“Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.'” (Genesis 18.20-21)
What was the sin of Sodom? Scripture explains it in two places:
“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.” (Ezekiel 16.49-50)
“Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 1.7)
3) Oppression of the poor, especially widows and orphans
This comes from two places in the Old Testament:
“Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.” (Exodus 22.22-23)
“The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.” (Exodus 2.24)
4) Defrauding workers of their wages
This one is found in both the Old and New Testaments:
“Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.” (Deuteronomy 24.14-15)
“Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.” (James 5.4)