Psalms 10:18

10:18 You defend ¹  the fatherless and oppressed, ² 

so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them. ³ 

Psalms 44:17

44:17 All this has happened to us, even though we have not rejected you ⁴ 

or violated your covenant with us. ⁵ 

Psalms 77:11

77:11 I will remember the works of the Lord.

Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago! ⁶ 

Psalms 82:3

82:3 Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! ⁷ 

Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!

[10:18]  ¹ tn Heb “to judge (on behalf of),” or “by judging (on behalf of).”

[10:18]  ² tn Heb “crushed.” See v. 10.

[10:18]  ³ tn Heb “he will not add again [i.e., “he will no longer”] to terrify, man from the earth.” The Hebrew term אֱנוֹשׁ (’enosh, “man”) refers here to the wicked nations (v. 16). By describing them as “from the earth,” the psalmist emphasizes their weakness before the sovereign, eternal king.

[44:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “we have not forgotten you.” To “forget” God refers here to worshiping false gods and thereby refusing to recognize his sovereignty (see v. 20, as well as Deut 8:19; Judg 3:7; 1 Sam 12:9; Isa 17:10; Jer 3:21; Ps 9:17).Thus the translation “we have not rejected you” has been used.

[44:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “and we did not deal falsely with your covenant.”

[77:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “yes, I will remember from old your wonders.”

[82:3]  ¹⁰ tn The Hebrew noun יָתוֹם (yatom) refers to one who has lost his father (not necessarily his mother, see Ps 109:9). Because they were so vulnerable and were frequently exploited, fatherless children are often mentioned as epitomizing the oppressed (see Pss 10:14; 68:5; 94:6; 146:9; as well as Job 6:27; 22:9; 24:3, 9; 29:12; 31:17, 21).