to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
Parallel translations
- KJV To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
- BSB to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.
- ESV to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
- NKJV To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
- NASB To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, So that mankind, which is of the earth, will no longer cause terror.
- NLT You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God acts to defend the fatherless and oppressed so that earthly tyrants terrify no more. Divine justice will finally end human oppression.
Overview
The psalm closes with confidence that God will vindicate the vulnerable and bring an end to the terror of 'man who is of the earth,' mere mortals who oppress. The reminder that the wicked are only earthbound creatures puts their power in perspective. It looks toward the day when God's justice removes all oppression.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Ps 9:9Yahweh will also be a high tower for the oppressed; a high tower in times of trouble.
- Ps 82:3“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
- Isa 11:4but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.
- Ps 17:14from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
- Luke 18:7–8Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
- 1 Cor 15:47–48The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
- Ps 94:1–6Yahweh, you God to whom vengeance belongs, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out.
- Ps 72:4He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.
- Luke 16:25“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.
- Ps 74:21Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.
- Ps 10:14But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
- Phil 3:18–19For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 10:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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