Psalms 43:1 · Clearspring

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Other translations

WEBBE

Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.

BSB

Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men.

KJV

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

ASV

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: Oh deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

BBE

Be my judge, O God, supporting my cause against a nation without religion; O keep me from the false and evil man.

Original Hebrew

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שָׁפְטֵנִי sha·fe·te·ni vindicate me H8199 אֱלֹהִים 'e·lo·him O God H430 וְרִיבָה ve·ri·vah and conduct H7378 רִיבִי ri·vi case my H7379 מִגּוֹי mi·goy from a nation H1471 לֹא־ lo'- not H3808 חָסִיד cha·sid faithful H2623 מֵאִישׁ־ me·'ish- from a man of H376 מִרְמָה mir·mah deceit H4820 וְעַוְלָה ve·'av·lah and injustice H5766 תְפַלְּטֵנִי te·fa·le·te·ni you will deliver me H6403

The early church

Sometimes judgment means punishment, sometimes it means discrimination. According to that mode of speech in which judgment means discrimination, "we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that" a man "may there receive what things he has done in the body, whether it be good or ill." For this same is a discrimination, to distribute good things to the good, evil things to the evil. For if judgment were always to be taken in a bad sense, the psalm would not say, "Judge me, O God." Perhaps some one is surprised when he hears one say, "Judge me, O God." For man is wont to say, "Forgive me, O God;" "Spare me, O God." Who is it that says, "Judge me, O God"? Sometimes in the psalm this very verse even is placed in the pause, to be given out by the reader and responded by the people. Does it not perhaps strike some man's heart so much that he is afraid to sing and to say to God, "Judge me, O God"? And yet the people sing it with confidence, and do not imagine that they wish an evil thing in that which they have learned from the divine word; even if they do not well understand it, they believe that what they sing is something good. And yet even the psalm itself has not left a man without an insight into the meaning of it. For, going on, it shows in the words that follow what kind of judgment it spoke of; that it is not one of condemnation, but of discrimination. For saith it, "Judge me, O God." What means "Judge me, O God, and discern my cause from an unholy nation"? According to this judgment of discerning, then, "we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ." But again, according to the judgment of condemnation, "Whoso believeth in me is passed from death to life," and shall not come into judgment.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Tractates on John

Commentary

Spurgeon · Verse 1

Judge me, O God. Others are unable to understand my motives, and unwilling to give me a just verdict. My heart is clear as to intent and therefore I bring my case before thee, content that thou wilt impartially weigh my character, and right my wrongs. If thou wilt judge, thy acceptance of my conduct will be enough for me; I can laugh at human misrepresentation if my conscience knows that thou art on my side; thou art the only one I care for; and besides, thy verdict will not sleep, but thou wilt see practical justice done to thy slandered servant. And plead my cause against an ungodly nation. One such advocate as the Lord will more than suffice to answer a nation of brawling accusers. When people are ungodly, no wonder that they are unjust; those who are not true to God himself cannot be expected to deal rightly with his people. Hating the King they will not love his subjects. Popular opinion weighs with many, but divine opinion is far more weighty with the gracious few. One good word from God outweighs ten thousand railing speeches of men. He bears a brazen shield before him whose reliance in all things is upon his God; the arrows of calumny fall harmlessly from such a buckler. O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. Deceit and injustice are boon companions: he who fawns will not fear to slander. From two such devils none can deliver us but God. His wisdom can outwit the craft of the vilest serpent, and his power can over match the most raging lion. Whether this was Doeg or Ahithophel is small matter, such double distilled villains are plentiful, and the only way of dealing with them is to refer the matter to the righteous Judge of all; if we try to fight them with their own weapons, we shall suffer more serious injury from ourselves than from them. O child of God, leave these thine enemies in better hands, remembering that vengeance belongeth not to thee, but to thy Lord. Turn to him in prayer, crying, "O deliver me, "and ere long you shall publish abroad the remembrance of his salvation.

Read Spurgeon on Psalm 43 →

Cross-references

20

Topics

God Afflictions And Adversities Deceit Injustice