Psalm 113:7
New International Version
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

New Living Translation
He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump.

English Standard Version
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

Berean Standard Bible
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump

King James Bible
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

New King James Version
He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,

New American Standard Bible
He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the garbage heap,

NASB 1995
He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap,

NASB 1977
He raises the poor from the dust, And lifts the needy from the ash heap,

Legacy Standard Bible
Who raises the poor from the dust And lifts high the needy from the ash heap,

Amplified Bible
He raises the poor out of the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap,

Christian Standard Bible
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage pile

American Standard Version
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the needy from the dunghill;

Contemporary English Version
God lifts the poor and needy from dust and ashes,

English Revised Version
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the needy from the dunghill;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He lifts the poor from the dust. He lifts the needy from a garbage heap.

Good News Translation
He raises the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from their misery

International Standard Version
He lifts the poor person from the dust, raising the needy from the trash pile

Majority Standard Bible
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump

NET Bible
He raises the poor from the dirt, and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile,

New Heart English Bible
He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap;

Webster's Bible Translation
He raiseth the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

World English Bible
He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the needy from the ash heap,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He is raising up the poor from the dust, "" He exalts the needy from a dunghill.

Young's Literal Translation
He is raising up from the dust the poor, From a dunghill He exalteth the needy.

Smith's Literal Translation
Raising up the poor from the dust, he will lift up the needy from the dunghill.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Raising up the needy from the earth, and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill::

Catholic Public Domain Version
He lifts up the needy from the ground, and he urges the poor away from filth,

New American Bible
He raises the needy from the dust, lifts the poor from the ash heap,

New Revised Standard Version
He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He raises up the poor out of the dunghill,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He raises the afflicted from a dunghill
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the needy out of the dunghill;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
who lifts up the poor from the earth, and raises up the needy from the dunghill;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Exalts the Humble
6He humbles Himself to behold the heavens and the earth. 7He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump 8to seat them with nobles, with the princes of His people.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 2:8
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.

Luke 1:52
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

Job 5:11
He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

2 Samuel 22:28
You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Proverbs 3:34
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

Ezekiel 17:24
Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”

Daniel 4:37
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Job 36:7
He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

Psalm 75:7
but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.


Treasury of Scripture

He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill;

raiseth

Psalm 75:6,7
For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south…

Psalm 107:41
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

Job 5:11,15,16
To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety…

out of

Psalm 22:15
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Isaiah 26:19
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Daniel 12:2,3
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt…

needy

1 Samuel 2:7,8
The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up…

1 Samuel 24:14
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

2 Samuel 7:8,9
Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: …

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Psalm 113
1. An exhortation to praise God for his excellence
6. For his mercy














He raises
The phrase "He raises" in Psalm 113:7 speaks to the active intervention of God in the lives of His people. The Hebrew root word here is "קוּם" (qum), which means to rise, stand up, or establish. This action is not passive; it is a deliberate and powerful movement by God to elevate those who are lowly. In the historical context of ancient Israel, this would resonate deeply, as the people often faced oppression and hardship. The imagery of God raising someone up is a testament to His sovereignty and His ability to change circumstances, reflecting His compassion and justice.

the poor
"The poor" refers to those who are economically disadvantaged, but in a broader sense, it also includes those who are humble or lowly in spirit. The Hebrew word used here is "דָּל" (dal), which can mean weak, thin, or needy. In the scriptural context, the poor are often seen as those who are especially close to God's heart, as they rely on Him for their sustenance and deliverance. This aligns with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, where the poor are blessed and promised the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). The historical context of the ancient Near East, where social hierarchies were rigid, makes this divine concern for the poor even more radical and profound.

from the dust
"From the dust" evokes the image of someone in a state of utter humility or degradation. The Hebrew word "עָפָר" (afar) means dust or dry earth, symbolizing mortality and lowliness. This phrase is reminiscent of the creation narrative in Genesis, where God forms man from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7). It underscores the transformative power of God, who can lift someone from the lowest point to a place of honor. Archaeologically, dust and ashes were often associated with mourning and repentance, further emphasizing the depth from which God rescues His people.

and lifts
The word "and lifts" continues the theme of divine elevation. The Hebrew root "נָשָׂא" (nasa) means to lift, carry, or bear. This action is not just about physical elevation but also about restoring dignity and honor. In the biblical narrative, God is frequently depicted as the one who lifts the burdens of His people, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. This lifting is an act of grace, demonstrating God's willingness to engage with humanity and transform their circumstances.

the needy
"The needy" refers to those who are in want or distress. The Hebrew word "אֶבְיוֹן" (evyon) conveys a sense of desperation and dependence. In the biblical context, the needy are often those who cry out to God for help, and He is portrayed as their defender and provider. This reflects the consistent biblical theme that God is a refuge for the oppressed and a stronghold in times of trouble (Psalm 9:9). Historically, the needy in Israelite society would include widows, orphans, and foreigners, groups that were particularly vulnerable and thus under God's special protection.

from the ash heap
"From the ash heap" is a vivid image of desolation and despair. The Hebrew word "אַשְׁפֹּת" (ashpot) refers to a heap of ashes, often associated with refuse or waste. In ancient times, ash heaps were places of rejection and abandonment, yet God chooses to lift people from these very places. This phrase highlights the redemptive power of God, who can bring beauty from ashes and joy from mourning (Isaiah 61:3). It serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to restore and renew, no matter how dire the situation.

(7-8) See 1Samuel 2:8, from which the verses are taken; and comp. Luke 1:52.

So the heathen poet sang of Jove (Hor.: Odes i., 34, 35).

(7) Dunghill.--Literally, a heap of rubbish. "Before each village in Hauran there is a place where the household heap up the sweepings of their stalls, and it gradually reaches a great circumference and a height which rises far above the highest buildings of the village." "The mezbela serves the inhabitants of the district as a watch-tower, and on close oppressive evenings as a place of assembly, because there is a current of air on the height. There the children play about the whole day long; there the forsaken one lies who, having been seized with some horrible malady, is not allowed to enter the dwellings of men, by day asking alms of the passers by, and at night hiding himself among the ashes which the sun has warmed."--Delitzsch's Commentary on the Book of Job, ii. 152, with Note by Wetzstein. It was on the mezbela that, according to tradition, Job sat.

Verse 7. - He raiseth up the poor out of the dust. Heaven is full of his glory, earth of his mercy and loving-kindness. The words of 1 Samuel 2:8 are, consciously or unconsciously, quoted. And lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; rather, from the dunghill (Revised Version).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He raises
מְקִֽימִ֣י (mə·qî·mî)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

the poor
דָּ֑ל (dāl)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1800: Dangling, weak, thin

from the dust
מֵעָפָ֣ר (mê·‘ā·p̄ār)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6083: Dust, clay, earth, mud

and lifts
יָרִ֥ים (yā·rîm)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

the needy
אֶבְיֽוֹן׃ (’eḇ·yō·wn)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

from the dump
מֵֽ֝אַשְׁפֹּ֗ת (mê·’aš·pōṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 830: An ash heap, refuse heap, dunghill


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OT Poetry: Psalm 113:7 He raises up the poor out (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 113:6
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