In what way is Grandfather Burden’s prayer over Mr. Shimerda’s body both a plea to God for mercy for Shimerda and a warning to Krajiek not to exploit the widow?

Grandfather Burden's prayer speaks to the fact that we have no right to judge others, particularly as Mr. Shimerda took his own life. In terms of a warning, Grandfather's prayer notes our responsibility to assist widows and orphans... not to take advantage of them.

“Oh, great and just God, no man among us knows what the sleeper knows, nor is it for us to judge what lies between him and Thee.” He prayed that if any man there had been remiss toward the stranger come to a far country, God would forgive him and soften his heart. He recalled the promises to the widow and the fatherless, and asked God to smooth the way before this widow and her children, and to “incline the hearts of men to deal justly with her.” In closing, he said we were leaving Mr. Shimerda at “Thy judgment seat, which is also Thy mercy seat.”