Psalms 12:5
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.
Study Note
Study Note
God's response — 'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise' — inserts a direct divine speech into the individual lament structure, providing a divine oracle that answers the psalmist's plea. The imagery of God 'arising' (qum) to defend the poor draws on the theophanic traditions of the Psalms (Psalm 3:7; 7:6; 94:2) where divine rising is the judicial intervention that vindicates the innocent. The contrast between the 'pure words' of the Lord (verse 6: 'as silver tried in a furnace') and the 'vain words' of the wicked (verse 2) frames the entire psalm as a battle between truthful and deceptive speech. Luke 18:7-8's promise that God 'shall avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him' and James 5:4's declaration that the cries of defrauded workers 'have entered into the ears of the Lord' continue this divine-advocacy tradition.
Other Translations
Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will set him in the safety he panteth for.
Because of the spoiling of the poor, Because of the groaning of the needy, Now do I arise, saith Jehovah, I set in safety <FI>him who<Fi> doth breathe for it.
Because of the crushing of the poor and the weeping of those in need, now will I come to his help, says the Lord; I will give him the salvation which he is desiring.
Cross References
And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel …
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard …
Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the …
And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for …
But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he …
Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.