Psalm 35:23
New International Version
Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.

New Living Translation
Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord.

English Standard Version
Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!

Berean Standard Bible
Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!

King James Bible
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

New King James Version
Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, To my cause, my God and my Lord.

New American Standard Bible
Stir Yourself, and awake to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

NASB 1995
Stir up Yourself, and awake to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

NASB 1977
Stir up Thyself, and awake to my right, And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
Stir up Yourself, and awake to my justice And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

Amplified Bible
Wake Yourself up, and arise to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

Christian Standard Bible
Wake up and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wake up and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my LORD!

American Standard Version
Stir up thyself, and awake to the justice due unto me, Even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Contemporary English Version
Fight to defend me, Lord God,

English Revised Version
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Wake up, and rise to my defense. Plead my case, O my God and my Lord.

Good News Translation
Rouse yourself, O Lord, and defend me; rise up, my God, and plead my cause.

International Standard Version
Wake up! Arouse yourself to vindicate me and argue my case, my God and my Lord.

Majority Standard Bible
Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!

NET Bible
Rouse yourself, wake up and vindicate me! My God and Lord, defend my just cause!

New Heart English Bible
Wake up. Rise up to defend me, my God. My Lord, contend for me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

World English Bible
Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Stir up, and wake to my judgment, "" My God, and my Lord, to my plea.

Young's Literal Translation
Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.

Smith's Literal Translation
Rouse up and awake to judgment, my God and my Lord, for my contention.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Arise, and be attentive to my judgment : to my cause, my God, and my Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Rise up and be attentive to my judgment, to my cause, my God and my Lord.

New American Bible
Awake, be vigilant in my defense, in my cause, my God and my Lord.

New Revised Standard Version
Wake up! Bestir yourself for my defense, for my cause, my God and my Lord!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
stir up thyself and awake to my judgment, see my suffering, my God and my LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Awake for my judgment, my God and my Lord, and see the defrauding of me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Rouse Thee, and awake to my judgment, Even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Awake, O Lord, and attend to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Contend with My Opponents
22O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me. 23Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord! 24Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.…

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

Psalm 44:23
Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever.

Psalm 59:4
For no fault of my own, they move swiftly to attack me. Arise to help me, and take notice.

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

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

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?

Lamentations 3:59-60
You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me; vindicate my cause! / You have seen all their malice, all their plots against me.

Job 19:25
But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.

Jeremiah 11:20
O LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously, who examines the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.

1 Samuel 24:12
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

2 Chronicles 20:12
Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

2 Thessalonians 1:6
After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

Revelation 6:10
And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?”

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

Stir up yourself, and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

Stir

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 44:23
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.

Psalm 80:2
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.

my God

Psalm 89:26
He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

Psalm 142:5
I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

John 20:28
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

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Psalm 35
1. David prays for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion
11. He complains of their wrongful dealing
22. Thereby he incites God against them














Awake
The plea for God to "awake" is a vivid anthropomorphic expression, suggesting that the psalmist feels as though God has been inactive or silent in the face of his troubles. In the Hebrew context, the word used here is "עוּר" (ur), which conveys a call to action. This reflects a deep trust in God's ability to intervene and a belief that His apparent inactivity is temporary. The psalmist's cry is not one of doubt but of faith, urging God to manifest His power and justice.

and rise
The phrase "and rise" complements the call to "awake," further emphasizing the urgency and desperation of the psalmist's situation. The Hebrew root "קוּם" (qum) is often used in the context of God arising to act on behalf of His people. This is a call for divine intervention, a request for God to stand up as a warrior ready to defend and deliver. It reflects the psalmist's confidence in God's sovereignty and His role as a protector.

to my defense
The term "defense" here is translated from the Hebrew "רִיב" (riv), which can mean to contend or plead. The psalmist is asking God to act as his advocate, to take up his cause as a legal defender would in a court of law. This reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, where God is seen as a just judge who will vindicate the righteous. It underscores the belief in God's justice and His commitment to uphold the cause of those who are wronged.

to my cause
The repetition of "to my cause" reinforces the personal nature of the psalmist's plea. It is not just a general call for help but a specific request for God to address the particular injustices he is facing. The Hebrew word "מִשְׁפָּט" (mishpat) is often associated with justice and judgment, indicating that the psalmist is seeking a righteous resolution to his plight. This highlights the psalmist's reliance on God's moral order and His ability to bring about justice.

my God and my Lord
The dual reference to "my God and my Lord" is a powerful declaration of faith and submission. "My God" (אֱלֹהַי, Elohai) emphasizes a personal relationship with the divine, while "my Lord" (אֲדֹנָי, Adonai) acknowledges God's authority and lordship. This duality reflects a deep reverence and trust in God's power and character. It is a reminder of the psalmist's devotion and the intimate bond between the believer and the Creator, who is both a personal savior and a sovereign ruler.

(23) Stir up thyself.--Comp. Psalm 7:6.

Verse 23. - Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment (camp. Psalm 80:2; Psalm 44:23; Psalm 78:65). The psalmists call on God to awake, not as though he were really asleep, but as a sort of stirring appeal to him to arise and manifest himself. Even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. "Awake," i.e., "to judge my cause - to acquit me, and condemn my enemies" (camp. Psalm 9:4; Psalm 35:1; Psalm 43:1, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Awake
הָעִ֣ירָה (hā·‘î·rāh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5782: To rouse oneself, awake

and rise
וְ֭הָקִיצָה (wə·hā·qî·ṣāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6974: Arise, be awake, watch

to my defense,
לְמִשְׁפָּטִ֑י (lə·miš·pā·ṭî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

to my cause,
לְרִיבִֽי׃ (lə·rî·ḇî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7379: Strife, dispute

my God
אֱלֹהַ֖י (’ĕ·lō·hay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

and my Lord!
וַֽאדֹנָ֣י (wa·ḏō·nāy)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord


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OT Poetry: Psalm 35:23 Wake up! (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 35:22
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