10:18 You defend 1 the fatherless and oppressed, 2
so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them. 3
35:23 Rouse yourself, wake up 4 and vindicate me! 5
My God and Lord, defend my just cause! 6
37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight,
and publicly defend your just cause. 7
72:14 From harm and violence he will defend them; 8
he will value their lives. 9
74:22 Rise up, O God! Defend your honor! 10
Remember how fools insult you all day long! 11
82:3 Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! 12
Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!
119:154 Fight for me 13 and defend me! 14
Revive me with your word!
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.
94:16 Who will rise up to defend me 18 against the wicked?
Who will stand up for me against the evildoers? 19
1 tn Heb “to judge (on behalf of),” or “by judging (on behalf of).”
2 tn Heb “crushed.” See v. 10.
3 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.
4 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.
5 tn Heb “for my justice.”
6 tn Heb “for my cause.”
7 tn Heb “and he will bring out like light your vindication, and your just cause like noonday.”
8 tn Or “redeem their lives.” The verb “redeem” casts the
9 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
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).