Psalm 140:12 kjv
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
Psalm 140:12 nkjv
I know that the LORD will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor.
Psalm 140:12 niv
I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
Psalm 140:12 esv
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.
Psalm 140:12 nlt
But I know the LORD will help those they persecute;
he will give justice to the poor.
Psalm 140 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 10:18 | He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. | God defends the helpless. |
| Psa 9:8 | He judges the world in righteousness; he executes judgment for the peoples with equity. | God's righteous global judgment. |
| Psa 10:14 | But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. | God actively sees and helps the afflicted. |
| Psa 68:5 | Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. | God as protector of vulnerable. |
| Psa 82:3-4 | Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. | Divine mandate for justice for the weak. |
| Psa 103:6 | The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. | God's universal righteousness and justice. |
| Psa 146:7 | He executes justice for the oppressed; he gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the captives free. | God's justice includes freeing the oppressed. |
| Prov 22:22-23 | Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the LORD will plead their cause and plunder those who plunder them. | Warning against harming the poor, God's vindication. |
| Isa 1:17 | Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. | Call to imitate God's justice. |
| Isa 30:18 | Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice... | God's just nature enables His mercy. |
| Jer 22:3 | Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness... Do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood... | Divine command for rulers to ensure justice. |
| Zec 7:10 | Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart. | Prohibition against oppression. |
| Mal 3:5 | Then I will draw near to you for judgment... against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless... | God promises judgment on oppressors. |
| Luke 4:18-19 | “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor... to set at liberty those who are oppressed..." | Jesus' ministry fulfills this promise for the poor. |
| Matt 11:5 | The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. | Jesus' acts demonstrate care for the poor. |
| Jas 2:5-6 | Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom...? But you have dishonored the poor. | God favors the poor, warning against their contempt. |
| Job 19:25 | For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. | Personal certainty of God's future vindication. |
| Psa 37:7 | Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way... | Trust God for ultimate vindication. |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” | God will execute ultimate justice. |
| 2 Thess 1:6 | Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you. | God's justice repays those who cause affliction. |
| Mic 6:8 | He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? | God's requirement for His people: justice and humility. |
| Amos 5:24 | But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. | Prophet's call for pervasive justice. |
Psalm 140 verses
Psalm 140 12 Meaning
Psalm 140:12 expresses the psalmist's unwavering conviction and certainty that Yahweh, the sovereign Lord, will actively intervene to defend and vindicate the cause of those who are oppressed, humble, and financially destitute. It declares God's steadfast commitment to execute righteous judgment on behalf of the vulnerable, ensuring they receive the justice they deserve.
Psalm 140 12 Context
Psalm 140 is a fervent prayer of David seeking deliverance from violent and wicked adversaries. It opens with a desperate plea to be rescued from evildoers who plot harm and speak deceitfully (vv. 1-5). David describes their malicious intent, likening their speech to venom and their traps to snares (vv. 3, 5). He appeals to God's covenant relationship (v. 6), reminding the Lord of His protective power in battle (v. 7). The psalmist petitions God to thwart the wicked, ensure their plots fail, and their words recoil upon them (vv. 8-11). Amidst this lament and specific prayer for judgment against his personal enemies, verse 12 marks a pivotal shift. It moves from a focus on the immediate threats to a profound declaration of universal theological truth regarding God's character and His unfailing commitment to justice for all who are oppressed. This declaration becomes the foundation for David's hope and confidence, allowing him to shift from desperate pleading to trusting assurance, concluding the psalm with the certainty that the righteous will dwell in God's presence (v. 13). Historically, the context is typical of David's life, constantly beset by enemies and betrayals, whether from Saul's pursuit, Absalom's rebellion, or foreign adversaries.
Psalm 140 12 Word analysis
I know: Hebrew yādaʿtî (יָדַעְתִּי). This is a strong affirmation of personal certainty and deep conviction, not mere intellectual assent but experiential knowledge. It signifies that the psalmist has learned this truth through observing God's character and actions, both in history and in his own life. This certainty fuels his faith amidst tribulation.
that the LORD: Hebrew kî YHWH (כִּי־יְהוָה). YHWH (Yahweh) is the personal, covenantal name of God, revealing Him as the faithful and eternally existing one who fulfills His promises. The psalmist's trust is anchored in the unchangeable character of God revealed through His covenant relationship with Israel. The particle kî (that) introduces the content of his conviction.
will maintain the cause: Hebrew yaʿăśeh mišpaṭ (יַעֲשֶׂה מִשְׁפַּט).
- yaʿăśeh (יַעֲשֶׂה): The imperfect tense of the verb ʿāśâ (עָשָׂה), "to do" or "to make." Here, it expresses a definite, certain future action – God will actively carry out this deed. It is not merely a wish or a hope but a settled conviction of what God will perform.
- mišpaṭ (מִשְׁפָּט): This significant Hebrew term encompasses "judgment," "justice," "legal decision," "right," or "ordinance." In this context, it refers to the act of executing legal judgment, vindicating the wronged party, and upholding what is right. It speaks to God's role as the supreme and righteous Judge.
of the afflicted: Hebrew ʿānî (עָנִי). This word describes those who are oppressed, humble, lowly, suffering, or afflicted, often due to social or economic hardship, or mistreatment by others. It suggests a state of weakness and vulnerability, typically dependent on God's intervention.
and justice: Hebrew ûmišpaṭ (וּמִשְׁפָּט). The conjunction wāw (וּ), "and," connects this phrase. The repetition of mišpaṭ (justice) serves as emphatic parallelism, reinforcing the core idea of righteous judgment. While it could imply "right for" or "vindication for," the common translation "justice for" fits the poetic parallelism.
for the poor: Hebrew ʾebyôn (אֶבְיוֹן). This term also means "poor" or "needy," but often implies someone who is severely destitute, suffering, and relying solely on charity or divine help. Unlike ʿānî, which can focus on the oppressed state, ʾebyôn strongly emphasizes the economic deprivation and dependence. The pairing of ʿānî and ʾebyôn is a common biblical idiom (e.g., Deut 15:11; Ps 72:13), representing the full spectrum of those in need—from general suffering to severe material want.
will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor: This phrase embodies God's covenant character as the ultimate defender of the downtrodden. The parallelism, using distinct yet overlapping terms (
aniandevyon), broadens the scope to encompass all forms of human vulnerability, oppression, and destitution. It indicates God’s active and comprehensive engagement in legal and social justice, not merely sympathy but active intervention and rectification. This serves as a powerful reassurance to those facing injustice that God is their ultimate advocate and judge.
Psalm 140 12 Bonus section
- This verse represents a turning point in Psalm 140, shifting from lament to an assertion of faith and hope. Such transitions are common in the Psalms, demonstrating the process of prayer leading to trust.
- The legal terminology "maintain the cause" (
ya'aseh mishpat) suggests a divine courtroom where God serves as the ultimate advocate and judge for those without human representation. - This verse articulates a core principle of divine justice found throughout the Old Testament—God's special care and concern for the socio-economically marginalized and vulnerable, contrasting with human tendency to neglect or exploit them.
Psalm 140 12 Commentary
Psalm 140:12 is a powerful declaration of theological certainty embedded within a psalm of lament. After detailing the malevolent actions of his enemies, the psalmist abruptly pivots, grounding his hope not in his own strength or manipulative pleas, but in an unshakable conviction about God's nature. This verse transforms the complaint into an expression of faith. The core message is that God, identified by His covenant name Yahweh, is fundamentally a God of justice, especially for the vulnerable. He doesn't merely observe suffering; He will actively perform (ya'aseh) righteous judgment and ensure vindication. The pairing of "afflicted" (ani) and "poor" (evyon) encompasses those who are oppressed, humble, lowly, economically disadvantaged, and wholly dependent on divine intervention. This promise stands as an eternal beacon of hope for all who experience injustice, providing a divine antidote to the despair that human oppression can induce. It reassures that while earthly justice may falter, heavenly justice is unfailing and guaranteed by God's character. For believers, this truth cultivates patient endurance and trust in divine timing, reminding them to leave ultimate vindication in God's hands.