Texts in Conversation
Psalm 109 describes the author, David, as poor and needy, using the same language found in Proverbs 31, which urges judging favorably for the those like him who are vulnerable. The Psalm reshapes the language of poverty to include his public shame.
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Proverbs 31:9
Hebrew Bible
7 let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more. 8 Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying. 9 Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. 10 Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies. 11 Her husband’s heart has trusted her, and he does not lack the dividends.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Psalm 109:22
Hebrew Bible
20 May the Lord repay my accusers in this way, those who say evil things about me. 21 O Sovereign Lord, intervene on my behalf for the sake of your reputation. Because your loyal love is good, deliver me. 22 For I am oppressed and needy, and my heart beats violently within me. 23 I am fading away like a shadow at the end of the day; I am shaken off like a locust. 24 I am so starved my knees shake; I have turned into skin and bones.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Trust in Yahweh is voiced in regard to his solidarity with the 'poor' (plural, indicating a communal setting) and 'oppressed' (singular) people (verse 13). It is for the first and only time that exactly these designations come to the fore; 'I am oppressed and poor' does occur on strictly individual terms (Psalm 40:18; 70:6; 86:1; 109:22; compare 25:16; 69:30; 88:16; for poverty as subject matter see Psalms 9; 37; etc.). Supposedly, they are self-designations of the community that transmitted the psalm. The naming of the reference group goes on in verse 14. Here they appear as 'just ones' and 'upright ones,' to whom a glorious future is predicted. The imperfect verbs ('give thanks', 'sit down') do not show exhortatory character. They are factual descriptions of what will happen when Yahweh attends to the clamor of his faithful ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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