Psalms 12 · Verse 5

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.
Psalms 12:5, King James Version

Psalms 12:5 in other translations

BSB“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
WEB“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”
ASVBecause 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.
YLTBecause of the spoiling of the poor, Because of the groaning of the needy, Now do I arise, saith Jehovah, I set in safety him who doth breathe for it.
DARBYBecause of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set him in safety, at whom they puff.
BBEBecause 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.
WebsterFor 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.

What does Psalms 12:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. The writer intimates his confidence by depicting God's actions (compare Psa 9:19; 10:12) as coming to save the poor at whom the wicked sneer (Psa 10:5).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 For the oppression of the poor - This seems to refer best to the tribulations which the poor Israelites suffered while captives in Babylon. The Lord represents himself as looking on and seeing their affliction; and, hearing their cry, he determines to come forward to their help. Now will I arise - I alone delivered them into the hands of their enemies, because of their transgressions; I alone can and will deliver them from the hands of their enemies; and the manner of their deliverance shall show the power and influence of their God. From him that puffeth at him - Here is much interpolation to make out a sense. Several of the versions read, "I will give him an open salvation." My work shall be manifest.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Psalms 12:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מִשֹּׁ֥דmi.Shodfrom [the] devastation ofH7701
עֲנִיִּים֮'a.ni.Yimafflicted [people]H6041
מֵאַנְקַ֪תme.'an.Katfrom [the] groaning ofH603
אֶבְי֫וֹנִ֥ים'ev.Yo.Nimneedy [people]H34
עַתָּ֣ה'a.TahnowH6258
אָ֭קוּם'A.kumI will ariseH6965
יֹאמַ֣רyo.Marhe saysH559
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אָשִׁ֥ית'a.ShitI will setH7896
בְּ֝יֵ֗שַׁעbe.Ye.sha'in [the] safetyH3468
יָפִ֥יחַֽya.Fi.ach[one who] he pantsH6315
לֽוֹ\׃lofor it

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 12:5

  • Psalms 34:6

    This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

  • Proverbs 14:31

    He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

  • James 5:4

    Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

  • Psalms 146:7-8

    Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners: The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:

  • Isaiah 33:10

    Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

  • Micah 7:8-9

    Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

  • Job 5:15

    But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.

  • Exodus 2:23-24

    And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

  • Psalms 10:12

    Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

  • Job 5:21

    Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

  • Ezekiel 18:12-13

    Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

  • Isaiah 19:20

    And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
oppression.
10:12; 74:21,22; 79:10,11; 146:7,8; Ex 2:23,24; 3:7-9; Jud 10:16
Pr 14:31; 22:22,23; Ec 4:1; 5:8; Isa 19:20; Eze 18:12,13,18
Jas 5:4
now.
Isa 33:10; Mic 7:8,9
puffeth at. or, would ensnare.
10:5; Job 5:15,21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 12:4

    Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

  • 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.

  • Psalms 12:6

    The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Read all of Psalms 12

Psalms 12:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por la opresión de los pobres, por el gemido de los menesterosos, ahora me levantaré, dice Jehová: pondrélos en salvo del que contra ellos se engríe.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ceux qui disent: Par nos langues nous prévaudrons, nos lèvres sont à nous; qui est seigneur sur nous?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wegen der gewalttätigen Behandlung der Elenden, wegen des Seufzens der Armen will ich nun aufstehen, spricht Jehova; ich will in Sicherheit stellen den, der danach schmachtet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		nequando dicat inimicus meus: Prævalui adversus eum. Qui tribulant me exsultabunt si motus fuero;