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For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.
Psalms 109:31 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
  • BSB For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul.
  • ESV For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.
  • NKJV For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those who condemn him.
  • NASB For He stands at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.
  • NLT For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn 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

David affirms that God stands at the right hand of the needy to save them from unjust judges. The Lord defends the very ones the wicked condemn.

Overview

In striking contrast to the accusing adversary at the wicked man's right hand (v. 6), God Himself stands at the needy person's right hand as defender and savior. This is the psalm's resolving confidence: God champions the poor against their oppressors. It points to Christ, the friend of sinners, who pleads for and rescues His people (Romans 8:34).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 16

  • Ps 121:5Yahweh is your keeper. Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.
  • Ps 16:8I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
  • Ps 73:23Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
  • Isa 54:17No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Yahweh’s servants, and their righteousness is of me,” says Yahweh.
  • Ps 110:5The Lord is at your right hand. He will crush kings in the day of his wrath.
  • Ps 140:12I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.
  • Prov 22:22–23Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
  • Eccl 5:8If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.
  • Ps 68:5A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
  • 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.
  • Ps 72:12–13For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.
  • 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.
  • Ps 109:16because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.
  • Acts 5:30–31The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
  • Exod 22:22–24“You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.
  • Acts 4:10–12be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand here before you whole.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 109:31YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 109:31 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.