¶I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have done what is just and righteous. Don’t leave me to my oppressors.
- KJV I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine 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.
- 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 18:20–24Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.
- 2 Sam 8:15David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
- Ps 37:33Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
- Ps 7:3–5Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,
- Ps 75:2When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly.
- Acts 25:10–11But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.
- Acts 21:16Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.
- Ps 57:3–4He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.
- 1 Sam 25:28Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights Yahweh’s battles. Evil will not be found in you all your days.
- 2 Pet 2:9the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment;
- 1 Sam 24:11–15Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life 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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