New Living Translation
Psalms 12:5
5The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”
Psalms 12:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
- New International Version (NIV)“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the Lord; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs."
- New King James Version (NKJV)“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”
Context of Psalms 12:5
3May the Lord cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues. 4They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own—who can stop us?” The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.” 6The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. 7Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation,
Read all of Psalms 12Psalms 12:5 word by word
מִשֹּׁ֥ד עֲנִיִּים֮ מֵאַנְקַ֪ת אֶבְי֫וֹנִ֥ים עַתָּ֣ה אָ֭קוּם יֹאמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה אָשִׁ֥ית בְּ֝יֵ֗שַׁע יָפִ֥יחַֽ לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For the oppressionשֹׁדshôd shôd · violenceH7701
- of the poorעָנִי‛ânîy · afflictedH6041
- for the sighingאֲנָקָה'ănâqâh · groaningH603
- of the needyאֶבְיוֹן'ebyôn · needyH34
- now will I ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- I will setשִׁיתshîyth · to set: putH7896
- in safetyיֵ֫שַׁעyesha‛ yêsha‛ · salvationH3468
- puffethפּוּחַpûach · to breatheH6315
Cross-references for Psalms 12:5
- Psalms 10:12Arise, O Lord! Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless!
- Psalms 74:21Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.
- Psalms 79:10Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?” Show us your vengeance against the nations, for they have spilled the blood of your servants.
- Psalms 146:7He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners.
- Exodus 2:23Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God.
- Exodus 3:7Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
- Judges 10:16Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery.
- Proverbs 14:31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.
- Proverbs 22:22Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.
- Ecclesiastes 4:1Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.
- Isaiah 19:20It will be a sign and a witness that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is worshiped in the land of Egypt. When the people cry to the Lord for help against those who oppress them, he will send them a savior who will rescue them.
- Ezekiel 18:12oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,
- James 5:4For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
- Isaiah 33:10But the Lord says: “Now I will stand up. Now I will show my power and might.
- Micah 7:8Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
Commentaries on Psalms 12:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5For the oppression of the poor - This seems to refer best to the tribulations which the poor Israelites suffered while captives in Babylon. The Lord represents himself as looking on and seeing their affliction; and, hearing their cry, he determines to come forward to their help. Now will I arise - I alone delivered them into the hands of their enemies, because of their transgressions; I alone can and will deliver them from the hands of their enemies; and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5For the oppression of the poor - That is, on account of the wrong done to the poor in the manner specified above - by the abuse of the power of speech. On account of the slanders uttered against them, or the frauds perpetrated on them by the abuse of this power. The reference is to the wrongs done when no confidence could be placed in men‘s words; when they uttered words of “vanity” and “flattery” Psalm 12:2; when promises were made only to be broken, and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8This prayer from the community asks the Lord for help against the many evil acts in the world. Because God answers, the godly can face the future with confidence, knowing that God protects them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. The writer intimates his confidence by depicting God's actions (compare Psa 9:19; 10:12) as coming to save the poor at whom the wicked sneer (Psa 10:5).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 12:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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