Psalm 119:121 kjv
I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
Psalm 119:121 nkjv
I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors.
Psalm 119:121 niv
I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors.
Psalm 119:121 esv
I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
Psalm 119:121 nlt
Don't leave me to the mercy of my enemies,
for I have done what is just and right.
Psalm 119 121 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 7:8 | "The LORD shall judge the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to my integrity that is in me." | Plea for vindication based on integrity. |
| Ps 18:20 | "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness..." | God rewards righteous action. |
| Ps 26:1 | "Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering." | Another psalmist's claim to integrity and plea for vindication. |
| Ps 35:24 | "Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness..." | Trusting God's righteous judgment. |
| Isa 56:1 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Preserve justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is soon to come...'" | Call to do justice and righteousness for salvation. |
| Mic 6:8 | "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" | God's core requirement: acting justly and humbly. |
| Zech 7:9 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another...'" | Emphasizes righteous and merciful conduct. |
| Matt 23:23 | "...woe to you... for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness..." | Highlights justice as a foundational aspect of the Law. |
| Luke 18:7 | "And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night?..." | God hears and provides justice for His chosen. |
| Rom 6:18 | "...having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness." | Transformation leading to a life of righteousness. |
| 1 Pet 3:13-14 | "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed." | Suffering for righteousness and God's blessing. |
| 2 Tim 4:8 | "...the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing." | Future reward for righteous living. |
| Ps 9:9 | "The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." | God as protector for the afflicted. |
| Ps 10:18 | "to do justice to the orphan and the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, may no longer strike terror." | God's heart is for justice for the vulnerable. |
| Ps 31:1-2 | "In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame... Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of refuge..." | Plea for refuge from shame and swift rescue. |
| Ps 55:3 | "...because of the voice of the enemy, because of the pressure of the wicked; For they heap trouble upon me..." | Experience of oppression from enemies. |
| Ps 56:1 | "Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; All day long an attacker oppresses me." | A plea against daily oppression. |
| Ps 69:18 | "Draw near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies!" | Call for redemption from enemies. |
| Jer 20:11 | "But the LORD is with me like a dreaded warrior; Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail..." | Assurance of God's presence against persecutors. |
| Lam 3:59 | "You have seen my wrong, O LORD; Judge my cause." | Asking God to judge their case of injustice. |
| Ps 140:12 | "I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor." | God's commitment to justice for the humble. |
| Ps 116:6 | "The LORD protects the simple; When I was brought low, he saved me." | God's protection for the vulnerable. |
| Isa 1:17 | "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." | Active doing of justice. |
| Ezek 18:27 | "Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life." | Linking doing justice and right with life/salvation. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 121 Meaning
Psalm 119:121 asserts the psalmist's personal adherence to righteous living and, on that basis, appeals for divine protection from those who persecute him. It is a plea for vindication, where the psalmist draws a connection between his own righteous conduct and his expectation that God will not abandon him to the unrighteous hands of his adversaries.
Psalm 119 121 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible, a profound acrostic poem structured around the Hebrew alphabet, with each of its 22 sections containing 8 verses beginning with the same letter. Its central theme is an unwavering devotion to God's Word – His Law, testimonies, statutes, precepts, commandments, judgments, and ordinances. The psalmist consistently expresses a deep love, longing, and obedience for God's divine revelation.
Verse 121 appears within a section where the psalmist often laments persecution and oppression due to his commitment to God's ways. While the general tenor of Psalm 119 is joyful meditation on the Law, it frequently highlights the practical challenges and suffering that result from living righteously in a hostile world. The psalmist is not boasting of sinless perfection, but asserting his sincere and active endeavor to live by God's standards in the face of adversaries who are presumably not doing judgment and justice. His plea for God's protection is thus rooted in the character of God Himself, who is just and righteous, and His covenant relationship with those who seek to obey Him.
Psalm 119 121 Word analysis
- I: Refers to the psalmist, representative of any individual seeking to live according to God's Word. The "I" here is not an expression of pride but an honest declaration of earnest effort in one's personal life before God.
- have done: Hebrew: ’asithi (עָשִׂיתִי). This verb is in the perfect tense, signifying a completed action. It indicates a consistent and actual practice of justice and righteousness, not merely a profession or intellectual assent. It means "I have performed," "I have carried out." This goes beyond thought or intention to concrete action.
- judgment: Hebrew: mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט). This term encompasses more than just a judicial verdict. It means "justice," "equity," "a legal right or claim," "proper administration of law," and "custom" or "manner of living" according to divine regulation. It speaks of acting justly in all dealings—with individuals, the poor, the oppressed—and aligning one's actions with God's decreed standards of right. It's often associated with impartiality and fair dealing.
- and justice: Hebrew: wa-tsedeq (וָצֶדֶק). More accurately translated as "righteousness" or "what is right." This term denotes moral uprightness, integrity, conformity to an ethical or moral standard, especially God's divine standard. When paired with mishpat (judgment/justice), as here and frequently in the Old Testament (e.g., Amos 5:24, Isa 5:7, Jer 22:3), it signifies comprehensive ethical conduct in both judicial/social realms and personal moral purity. Mishpat u-tzedakah (justice and righteousness) represents the full scope of right conduct demanded by God.
- leave me not: Hebrew: ’al tanḥeni (אַל תַּנִּיחֵנִי). This is a strong negative imperative, meaning "Do not abandon me," "Do not hand me over," or "Do not give me rest from their oppression by leaving me in it." It conveys an urgent plea for divine intervention, a passionate cry against being relinquished to the enemy.
- to mine oppressors: Hebrew: le-loḥatsai (לְלֹחֲצָי). The root laḥats (לָחַץ) means "to press," "to squeeze," "to afflict," "to oppress," "to crush." The loḥatsim are those who cause distress, who persecute, harass, and put pressure on the psalmist, presumably because of his faithfulness to God's Word. The use of "mine" emphasizes the personal nature of this affliction.
Psalm 119 121 Bonus section
- Basis for Appeal: The psalmist's claim of having "done judgment and justice" serves as his moral standing or plea, not as a demand or boast. It reflects the covenantal understanding that faithfulness to God's commands often brings divine favor and protection.
- Polemic against Worldly Powers: In its ancient context, this declaration stands in contrast to earthly rulers or legal systems that often perverted justice and oppressed the innocent. The psalmist appeals to a higher, divine court that judges truly and justly, implying that his oppressors operate outside of true justice.
- Not a Guarantee of No Suffering: The verse doesn't promise a life free from oppressors but rather assures that God will not abandon His faithful to them. This distinguishes between enduring suffering and being utterly delivered over to an enemy without divine hope.
- Application to Christ: Jesus Christ perfectly "did judgment and justice" (Isa 53:11, 1 Pet 2:22), yet was indeed "left to His oppressors" (Matt 27:2, John 19:16) for the sake of humanity's redemption. His righteous life became the basis for God's ultimate deliverance and exaltation (Acts 2:24, Phil 2:9). For the believer, imitation of Christ's righteousness becomes the new ground for seeking God's protection.
Psalm 119 121 Commentary
Psalm 119:121 encapsulates a fundamental principle of covenantal relationship: God's people, in their striving to uphold His standards of justice and righteousness, have a legitimate basis to appeal for His protective intervention against unjust adversaries. The psalmist here is not presenting his good deeds as a merit for salvation, which comes by grace, but rather as an expression of his obedience within the covenant. Having genuinely done (a strong verb of action) both mishpat (active justice, fair dealing) and tsedeq (moral uprightness, living righteously), he positions himself in alignment with God's own character, as God Himself is supremely just and righteous. This alignment fuels his confidence in praying for deliverance.
The plea "leave me not to mine oppressors" is an urgent cry born out of the painful reality of suffering for righteousness' sake. It implies a recognition that his oppressors are actively seeking his harm, and without God's direct intervention, he would be at their mercy. It highlights the biblical tension between righteous living and the reality of external adversity, emphasizing the need for divine advocacy. This verse serves as a powerful encouragement for believers to consistently pursue righteousness, knowing that in doing so, they can confidently appeal to their just and righteous God for help and deliverance in times of trouble. It demonstrates a profound trust that God will vindicate those who sincerely walk in His ways.