For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
Read it in contextPsalm 109
Start reading at Psalms 109:1 (Psalms 109:1 to Psalms 109:31).
The verse belongs to the complete Psalm 109, which is a distinct literary unit.
109:1Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
109:2For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
109:3They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
109:4For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
109:5And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
109:6Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
109:7When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
109:8Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
109:9Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
109:10Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
109:11Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
109:12Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
109:13Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
109:14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
109:15Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
109:16Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
109:17As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
109:18As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
109:19Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
109:20Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
109:21But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
109:22For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
109:23I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
109:24My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
109:25I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
109:26Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:
109:27That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.
109:28Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
109:29Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
109:30I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
109:31For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Multiple writers contributed to Psalms, including David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses; some psalms have no named attribution. The traditional Hebrew headings distinguish many of these contributions. Biblical references: Acts 2:25; Acts 4:25. book background
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Psalms 109:1–109:31): The psalmist appeals to God amid accusation and hostility; the prayer's language concerning opponents must be read within that dispute. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel's worshipping community, including individuals and assemblies using the psalms for prayer, praise, lament, and instruction. A particular psalm may speak directly to God, to the congregation, or to another group. Biblical references: Psalms 22:22; Psalms 78:1; Psalms 100:1. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is God's unwavering protection and salvation for the poor and needy from those who condemn them. The psalmist expresses his trust that God will stand by the afflicted to deliver them from their adversaries.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His character as a righteous defender of the oppressed and a merciful deliverer. He shows that He actively intervenes to save those who are vulnerable and condemned by others.
What is the literary style? The literary style is Hebrew poetry, specifically a declaration of trust and praise that concludes a psalm of lament and imprecation.
When
When was it written? This psalm was written by David, likely around 1000 B.C., within the broader period of Psalms collection from c. 1400 to 450 B.C.
When does the event take place? The psalmist describes his current affliction and expresses a future certainty of God's intervention and salvation for the poor and needy.
Where
Where did it happen? The psalm describes the psalmist's personal experience of persecution and his prayer to God, which would have occurred within the land of Israel.
Where was the author located? David, the author, was located in Israel.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Psalm 109 (Psalms 109:1 to Psalms 109:31).
Start reading at Psalms 109:1. The verse belongs to the complete Psalm 109, which is a distinct literary unit.
How
How does it fit the broader context? Psalm 109 begins with a fervent lament and a lengthy imprecation against the psalmist's malicious adversaries (vv. 1-20). He then shifts to a plea for God's mercy and help, identifying himself as 'poor and needy' (vv. 21-29). Verse 31 serves as a powerful concluding statement of faith and trust, providing the ultimate reason for his praise (v. 30): God's certain intervention to save the afflicted from condemnation, thereby affirming God's justice and mercy.
How does it point to Christ? This passage points to Christ in several ways. Jesus identified with the poor and needy (Matthew 25:35-40). He was condemned by men, yet God the Father stood at His right hand, raising Him from the dead and exalting Him, thus saving Him from the condemnation of His soul (Acts 4:10-12, Acts 5:30-31). Christ Himself now stands at the right hand of God, interceding for and saving those who are spiritually poor and needy, and who are condemned by the world or by sin, from eternal condemnation. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Today, this verse encourages believers who feel oppressed, condemned, or vulnerable to trust in God's active protection and advocacy. It reminds us that God champions the cause of the poor and needy, both physically and spiritually. It inspires confidence in God's justice and mercy, assuring us that He will deliver His faithful from those who seek to harm or condemn them, prompting us to praise Him even amidst adversity.
David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and MosesNamed in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe superscriptions name their writers: David most often, and also Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. The New Testament quotes psalms as David's words. Psalm 3:1Psalm 90:1Acts 2:25Acts 4:25
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition preserves the superscriptions as ancient.
What is debatedSome scholars regard certain superscriptions as later additions. The collection was assembled over centuries.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Psalms 109
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement. A quoted heading uses the opening KJV words of that stanza; the speaker and the psalm as a whole still govern its meaning.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but…”
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Psalms
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech.
Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThe second collection continues varied prayers and songs and closes with royal prayer and a doxology; its individual psalms retain distinct voices and occasions.
FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions
Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.