Psalms 12:5

12:5 “Because of the violence done to the oppressed, ¹ 

because of the painful cries ²  of the needy,

I will spring into action,” ³  says the Lord.

“I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.” ⁴ 

Psalms 91:14

91:14 The Lord says, ⁵ 

“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him;

I will protect him ⁶  because he is loyal to me. ⁷ 

Isaiah 33:16

33:16 This is the person who will live in a secure place; ⁸ 

he will find safety in the rocky, mountain strongholds; ⁹ 

he will have food

and a constant supply of water.

[12:5]  ¹ tn The term translated “oppressed” is an objective genitive; the oppressed are the recipients/victims of violence.

[12:5]  ² tn Elsewhere in the psalms this noun is used of the painful groans of prisoners awaiting death (79:11; 102:20). The related verb is used of the painful groaning of those wounded in combat (Jer 51:52; Ezek 26:15) and of the mournful sighing of those in grief (Ezek 9:4; 24:17).

[12:5]  ³ tn Heb “I will rise up.”

[12:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “I will place in deliverance, he pants for it.” The final two words in Hebrew (יָפִיחַ לוֹ, yafiakh lo) comprise an asyndetic relative clause, “the one who pants for it.” “The one who pants” is the object of the verb “place” and the antecedent of the pronominal suffix (in the phrase “for it”) is “deliverance.” Another option is to translate, “I will place in deliverance the witness for him,” repointing יָפִיחַ (a Hiphil imperfect from פּוּחַ, puakh, “pant”) as יָפֵחַ (yafeakh), a noun meaning “witness.” In this case the Lord would be promising protection to those who have the courage to support the oppressed in the court of law. However, the first part of the verse focuses on the oppressed, not their advocates.

[91:14]  ⁵ tn The words “the Lord says” are supplied in the translation to clarify that the words which follow are the Lord’s oracle of assurance.

[91:14]  ⁶ tn Or “make him secure” (Heb “set him on high”).

[91:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “because he knows my name” (see Ps 9:10).

[33:16]  ⁸ tn Heb “he [in the] exalted places will live.”

[33:16]  ⁹ tn Heb “mountain strongholds, cliffs [will be] his elevated place.”