I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have done what is just and righteous. Don’t leave me to my oppressors.
- BSB I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
- NKJV I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors.
- NASB ¶I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors.
- NLT Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies, for I have done what is just and right.
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
Having done justice and righteousness, he asks not to be left to his oppressors. He appeals to God on the basis of his upright conduct.
Overview
Opening the AYIN stanza, the psalmist points to his just and righteous conduct as he pleads not to be abandoned to those who oppress him. This is not a claim of sinless merit but an appeal that God would defend one who has sought to do right. Such commitment of a righteous cause to God is perfectly seen in Christ, who entrusted Himself to the just Judge (1 Pet. 2:23; Ps. 26:1).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Ps 18:20–24The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
- 2 Sam 8:15And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
- Ps 37:33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
- Ps 7:3–5O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
- Ps 75:2When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
- Acts 25:10–11Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
- Acts 21:16There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
- Ps 57:3–4He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
- 1 Sam 25:28I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
- 2 Pet 2:9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
- 1 Sam 24:11–15Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
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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 119:121 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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