Psalm 10:12
New International Version
Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.

New Living Translation
Arise, O LORD! Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless!

English Standard Version
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.

Berean Standard Bible
Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.

King James Bible
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

New King James Version
Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.

New American Standard Bible
Arise, LORD; God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the humble.

NASB 1995
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted.

NASB 1977
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Thy hand. Do not forget the afflicted.

Legacy Standard Bible
Arise, O Yahweh; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted.

Amplified Bible
Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand [in judgment]; Do not forget the suffering.

Christian Standard Bible
Rise up, LORD God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the oppressed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Rise up, LORD God! Lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted.

American Standard Version
Arise, O Jehovah; O God, lift up thy hand: Forget not the poor.

Contemporary English Version
Do something, LORD God, and use your powerful arm to help those in need.

English Revised Version
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the poor.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Arise, O LORD! Lift your hand, O God. Do not forget oppressed people!

Good News Translation
O LORD, punish those wicked people! Remember those who are suffering!

International Standard Version
Rise up, LORD! Raise your hand, God. Don't forget the afflicted!

NET Bible
Rise up, LORD! O God, strike him down! Do not forget the oppressed!

New Heart English Bible
Arise, LORD. God, lift up your hand. Do not forget the helpless.

Webster's Bible Translation
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the humble.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.

World English Bible
Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Arise, O YHWH! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.

Young's Literal Translation
Arise, O Jehovah! O God, lift up Thy hand! Forget not the humble.

Smith's Literal Translation
Arise, O Jehovah; O God, lift up thine hand: thou wilt not forget the poor.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.

Catholic Public Domain Version
O Lord God, rise up. Let your hand be exalted. Do not forget the poor.

New American Bible
Rise up, LORD! God, lift up your hand! Do not forget the poor!

New Revised Standard Version
Rise up, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; do not forget the oppressed.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Arise, O LORD; O my God, lift up thine hand; forget not the afflicted.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Arise, LORD JEHOVAH, my God, and lift your hand and do not forget the afflicted one.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Thy hand; Forget not the humble.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Arise, O Lord God; let thy hand be lifted up: forget not the poor.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Perils of the Pilgrim
11He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.” 12Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless. 13Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”…

Cross References
Psalm 9:19
Rise up, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.

Isaiah 33:10
“Now I will arise,” says the LORD. “Now I will lift Myself up. Now I will be exalted.

Psalm 44:26
Rise up; be our help! Redeem us on account of Your loving devotion.

Psalm 74:22
Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.

Psalm 7:6
Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.

Isaiah 51:9
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?

Psalm 35:23
Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!

Psalm 82:8
Arise, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are Your inheritance.

Psalm 3:7
Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

Psalm 12:5
“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.”

Psalm 17:13
Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,

Psalm 94:2
Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

Isaiah 2:19
Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.

Isaiah 51:17
Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; you who have drained the goblet to the dregs—the cup that makes men stagger.

Luke 18:7-8
Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them? / I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”


Treasury of Scripture

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand: forget not the humble.

Arise

Psalm 3:7
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Psalm 7:6
Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

Psalm 9:19
Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

lift

Psalm 94:2
Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

Isaiah 26:11
LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

Isaiah 33:10
Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

forget

Psalm 9:12
When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Psalm 13:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

Psalm 77:9
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

humble.

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Psalm 10
1. David complains of the wicked
12. He prays for remedy
16. He professes his confidence














Arise, O LORD!
This phrase is a call for divine intervention, often seen in the Psalms as a plea for God to take action against injustice. The imagery of God arising suggests a shift from a state of rest to one of active engagement. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of deities as warriors who rise to defend their people. The call for God to "arise" is echoed in other scriptures, such as Psalm 68:1, where God is asked to scatter His enemies. It underscores the belief in God's sovereignty and His ability to change circumstances.

Lift up Your hand, O God!
The lifting of God's hand symbolizes His power and authority to act. In biblical times, the hand was often associated with strength and action. This phrase implies a request for God to demonstrate His might against the wicked. The hand of God is a recurring motif in scripture, representing His intervention and deliverance, as seen in Exodus 15:6, where God's right hand is described as glorious in power. This imagery reassures believers of God's capability to protect and deliver His people.

Do not forget the helpless.
This plea highlights God's concern for the marginalized and oppressed. The term "helpless" refers to those who are vulnerable and unable to defend themselves, often widows, orphans, and the poor. The psalmist appeals to God's justice and compassion, which are central themes throughout the Bible. In Isaiah 1:17, God commands His people to defend the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow, reflecting His heart for the helpless. This phrase also points to the prophetic fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who embodied God's care for the needy, as seen in His ministry to the poor and oppressed (Luke 4:18).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Psalmist
The author of Psalm 10, traditionally attributed to David, who is crying out to God for justice and intervention.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, invoked by the psalmist as the ultimate authority and deliverer.

3. The Helpless
Refers to those who are oppressed, marginalized, or in need of divine intervention.

4. The Wicked
Implied in the context as those who oppress the helpless and act unjustly.

5. The Event of Prayer
The act of calling upon God to intervene in the face of injustice and oppression.
Teaching Points
God's Justice and Compassion
God is both just and compassionate, and He is attentive to the cries of the oppressed. Believers are encouraged to trust in His righteous character.

The Power of Prayer
The psalmist's plea is a reminder of the power of prayer. We are invited to bring our concerns and the needs of the helpless before God, trusting in His timing and wisdom.

Our Role in Justice
As followers of Christ, we are called to be advocates for justice, reflecting God's heart for the oppressed in our actions and attitudes.

Remembering the Helpless
It is crucial to remember and support those who are marginalized in society, aligning our hearts with God's concern for the vulnerable.

Faith in Action
Our faith should lead to action, motivating us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that desperately needs His love and justice.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Psalm 10:12?

2. How does Psalm 10:12 encourage us to trust in God's justice today?

3. What does "Arise, O LORD" in Psalm 10:12 reveal about God's intervention?

4. How can we apply Psalm 10:12 when facing personal injustices?

5. Connect Psalm 10:12 with another scripture about God's response to the oppressed.

6. How does Psalm 10:12 inspire us to pray for the vulnerable in society?

7. Why does Psalm 10:12 call for God to "lift up Your hand" against the wicked?

8. How does Psalm 10:12 reflect God's justice in the face of human suffering?

9. What historical context influenced the plea in Psalm 10:12?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 10?

11. How can we determine whether the psalm's language of vengeance (Psalm 109) is historically or culturally rooted rather than universally prescriptive?

12. Psalm 33:13-15 teaches God observes everyone on earth; what evidence supports the idea that God actively watches and guides human affairs?

13. In Romans 4:6-8, does the idea of sin not being counted against believers conflict with other biblical passages that emphasize judgment and accountability?

14. Luke 12:10 mentions an 'unforgivable sin.' How does that align with passages elsewhere in the Bible that emphasize God's limitless forgiveness?
What Does Psalm 10:12 Mean
Arise, O Lord!

Psalm 10:12 opens with a passionate cry: “Arise, O LORD!”. The psalmist is not doubting God’s presence; he is urgently inviting God to step into visible action. Similar appeals run throughout Scripture—“Arise, O LORD, let not man prevail” (Psalm 9:19), “Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God!” (Psalm 3:7), and even Moses’ battle cry, “Rise up, O LORD, let Your enemies be scattered” (Numbers 10:35). These parallels show that when God “arises,” His righteousness moves from the unseen realm into history in ways people can witness.

• The word pictures a warrior rising from His throne to defend His people.

• It reminds us that delay is not absence; God’s timing is perfect, yet He invites us to appeal to Him (Luke 18:7–8).

• Because He is the unchanging LORD (Malachi 3:6), we have confidence that He will respond just as faithfully today.


Lift up Your hand, O God!

“Lift up Your hand” asks God to unveil His power. Scripture often links God’s hand with decisive deeds: “Your hand, O LORD, is glorious in power” (Exodus 15:6), “You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm” (Psalm 89:10). By requesting that His hand be lifted, the psalmist is calling for:

• Protection—God’s hand shields His own (Isaiah 41:10).

• Provision—“You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16).

• Judgment—“When You lift up Your hand, they are consumed” (Isaiah 26:11).

The phrase affirms that God’s intervention is not abstract; it is tangible, capable of overturning injustice and vindicating the righteous (Psalm 18:16–17).


Do not forget the helpless.

The plea climaxes with concern for the most vulnerable. God repeatedly declares His heart for them: “For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no helper” (Psalm 72:12), and “He defends the cause of the fatherless and widow” (Deuteronomy 10:18). The psalmist is confident that:

• God’s memory is flawless—“Can a woman forget her nursing child?… I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15).

• His justice guarantees the needy will not be abandoned—“For the needy will not always be forgotten” (Psalm 9:18).

• Intercession on their behalf aligns our hearts with His own compassion (Proverbs 31:8–9).


summary

Psalm 10:12 models bold, faith-filled intercession. We invite God to arise, trust His mighty hand, and rest in His unwavering commitment to remember the helpless. In doing so, we echo the timeless assurance that the Lord sees, cares, and will act with perfect justice and mercy.

(12) Here the acrostic arrangement is resumed with koph.

Verse 12. - Arise, O Lord (comp. Psalm 9:19). At this point the psalmist passes from description to invocation. From ver. 2 to the end of ver. 11 he has described the conduct, the temper, and the very inmost thoughts of the wicked. Now he addresses himself to God - he summons God to arise to vengeance. As Hengetenberg says, "Here the second part begins - prayer, springing out of the lamentation which has preceded;" prayer and invocation, beginning here, and terminating at the close of ver. 15. O God, lift up thine hand; i.e. to strike, to take vengeance on the wicked. Forget not the humble; or, the afflicted. Do not justify the hidden thought of the wicked (ver. 11), that thou forgettest - show that thou rememberest at once the sufferings of the afflicted, and the guilt of their oppressors.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Arise,
קוּמָ֤ה (qū·māh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

O LORD!
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Lift up
נְשָׂ֣א (nə·śā)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

Your hand,
יָדֶ֑ךָ (yā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

O God.
אֵ֭ל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

forget
תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח (tiš·kaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention

the helpless.
עֲנָוִֽים׃ (‘ă·nā·wîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble


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OT Poetry: Psalm 10:12 Arise Yahweh! (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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