Psalms 10:18

10:18 You defend the fatherless and oppressed,

so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.

Psalms 35:23

35:23 Rouse yourself, wake up and vindicate me!

My God and Lord, defend my just cause!

Psalms 37:6

37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight,

and publicly defend your just cause.

Psalms 72:14

72:14 From harm and violence he will defend them;

he will value their lives.

Psalms 74:22

74:22 Rise up, O God! Defend your honor! 10 

Remember how fools insult you all day long! 11 

Psalms 82:3

82:3 Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! 12 

Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!

Psalms 119:154

119:154 Fight for me 13  and defend me! 14 

Revive me with your word!

Psalms 72:4

72:4 He will defend 15  the oppressed among the people;

he will deliver 16  the children 17  of the poor

and crush the oppressor.

Psalms 94:16

94:16 Who will rise up to defend me 18  against the wicked?

Who will stand up for me against the evildoers? 19 


tn Heb “to judge (on behalf of),” or “by judging (on behalf of).”

tn Heb “crushed.” See v. 10.

tn Heb “he will not add again [i.e., “he will no longer”] to terrify, man from the earth.” The Hebrew term אֱנוֹשׁ (’enosh, “man”) refers here to the wicked nations (v. 16). By describing them as “from the earth,” the psalmist emphasizes their weakness before the sovereign, eternal king.

sn Though he is confident that the Lord is aware of his situation (see v. 22a), the psalmist compares the Lord’s inactivity to sleep and urges him to wake up.

tn Heb “for my justice.”

tn Heb “for my cause.”

tn Heb “and he will bring out like light your vindication, and your just cause like noonday.”

tn Or “redeem their lives.” The verb “redeem” casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis (see Pss 19:14; 69:18).

tn Heb “their blood will be precious in his eyes.”

10 tn Or “defend your cause.”

11 tn Heb “remember your reproach from a fool all the day.”

12 tn The Hebrew noun יָתוֹם (yatom) refers to one who has lost his father (not necessarily his mother, see Ps 109:9). Because they were so vulnerable and were frequently exploited, fatherless children are often mentioned as epitomizing the oppressed (see Pss 10:14; 68:5; 94:6; 146:9; as well as Job 6:27; 22:9; 24:3, 9; 29:12; 31:17, 21).

13 tn Or “argue my case.”

14 tn Heb “and redeem me.” The verb “redeem” casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis (see Ps 19:14).

15 tn Heb “judge [for].”

16 tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.

17 tn Heb “sons.”

18 tn Heb “for me.”

19 sn Who will stand up for me…? The questions anticipate the answer, “No one except God” (see v. 17).