Psalm 74:21
New International Version
Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.

New Living Translation
Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.

English Standard Version
Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name.

King James Bible
O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

New King James Version
Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name.

New American Standard Bible
May the oppressed person not return dishonored; May the afflicted and the needy praise Your name.

NASB 1995
Let not the oppressed return dishonored; Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.

NASB 1977
Let not the oppressed return dishonored; Let the afflicted and needy praise Thy name.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let not the oppressed return dishonored; Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.

Amplified Bible
Let not the oppressed return dishonored; Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.

Christian Standard Bible
Do not let the oppressed turn away in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not let the oppressed turn away in shame; let the poor and needy praise Your name.

American Standard Version
Oh let not the oppressed return ashamed: Let the poor and needy praise thy name.

Contemporary English Version
Don't disappoint those in need or make them turn from you, but help the poor and homeless to shout your praises.

English Revised Version
O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not let oppressed people come back in disgrace. Let weak and needy people praise your name.

Good News Translation
Don't let the oppressed be put to shame; let those poor and needy people praise you.

International Standard Version
Don't let the oppressed return in humiliation. The poor and needy will praise your name.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name.

NET Bible
Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame! Let the oppressed and poor praise your name!

New Heart English Bible
Do not let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.

Webster's Bible Translation
O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

World English Bible
Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not let the oppressed turn back ashamed, "" Let the poor and needy praise Your Name,

Young's Literal Translation
Let not the oppressed turn back ashamed, Let the poor and needy praise Thy name,

Smith's Literal Translation
The poor one shall not turn back ashamed: the humble and the needy shall praise thy name.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let not the humble be turned away with confusion: the poor and needy shall praise thy name.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not allow the humble to be turned away in confusion. The poor and the needy will praise your name.

New American Bible
Let not the oppressed turn back in shame; may the poor and needy praise your name.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
O let not the oppressed return ashamed; let the poor and needy praise thy name.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Let not the poor remain ashamed; let the afflicted and the poor praise your Name.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
O let not the oppressed turn back in confusion; Let the poor and needy praise Thy name.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
let not the afflicted and shamed one be rejected: the poor and needy shall praise thy name.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Why Have You Rejected Us Forever?
20Consider Your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land. 21Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name. 22Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.…

Cross References
Isaiah 41:17
The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

Isaiah 29:19
The humble will increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 9:18
For the needy will not always be forgotten; nor the hope of the oppressed forever dashed.

Proverbs 14:31
Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.

Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

Matthew 11:5
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Luke 6:20
Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Job 5:16
So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

Psalm 10:17-18
You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear, / to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.

Isaiah 66:2
Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

1 Corinthians 1:27-28
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,


Treasury of Scripture

O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise your name.

o let not

Psalm 9:18
For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

Psalm 12:5
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

Psalm 102:19-21
For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; …

poor

Psalm 102:21
To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

Ezra 3:11
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Jeremiah 33:11
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

Jump to Previous
Afflicted Ashamed Confusion Crushed Disgrace Dishonored Downtrodden Low Needy Oppressed Poor Praise Retreat Shame Turn Turned
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Afflicted Ashamed Confusion Crushed Disgrace Dishonored Downtrodden Low Needy Oppressed Poor Praise Retreat Shame Turn Turned
Psalm 74
1. The prophet complains of the desolation of the sanctuary
10. He moves God to help in consideration of his power
18. Of his reproachful enemies, or his children and of his covenant.














Do not let
This phrase is a plea for divine intervention. The Hebrew root here is "אַל־תָּשֵׁב" (al-tashiv), which conveys a strong request or supplication. It reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to change circumstances. The psalmist is appealing to God's character as a protector and deliverer, emphasizing the belief that God is actively involved in the lives of His people.

the oppressed
The term "oppressed" comes from the Hebrew "דַּךְ" (dach), which refers to those who are crushed or downtrodden. Historically, this would include those suffering under unjust rulers or societal structures. In a broader spiritual sense, it represents anyone burdened by sin or spiritual warfare. The Bible consistently portrays God as a defender of the oppressed, highlighting His justice and mercy.

retreat in shame
The concept of retreating in shame involves a sense of defeat and humiliation. The Hebrew word "יָשׁוּב" (yashuv) suggests turning back or withdrawing. In ancient times, shame was a powerful social force, often associated with public disgrace. The psalmist is asking God to prevent His people from experiencing such dishonor, affirming the belief that God restores dignity to those who trust in Him.

may the poor and needy
This phrase highlights God's special concern for the marginalized. The Hebrew words "עָנִי" (ani) and "אֶבְיוֹן" (evyon) refer to those lacking material resources and social standing. Throughout Scripture, God is depicted as a champion of the poor and needy, calling His followers to emulate His compassion and generosity. This reflects the biblical principle that true religion involves caring for the least among us.

praise Your name
"Praise" in Hebrew is "יְהַלְלוּ" (yehalelu), which means to boast or glorify. The "name" of God represents His character and reputation. In the ancient Near East, a name was more than a label; it encapsulated the essence of a person. By calling for the poor and needy to praise God's name, the psalmist envisions a future where God's justice and mercy are so evident that even the most vulnerable can rejoice and testify to His goodness.

(21) Oppressed.--Literally, crushed. (See Psalm 9:9; Psalm 10:18.)

Verse 21. - O let not the oppressed return ashamed; i.e. let not this oppressed nation turn their back on thee in shame and confusion at thy forsaking them. Rather, let the poor and needy praise thy Name; i.e. show them some mercy, some deliverance, which may turn their shame into joy, and call forth from them songs of praise.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

let the oppressed
דַּ֣ךְ (daḵ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1790: Crushed, oppressed

retreat
יָשֹׁ֣ב (yā·šōḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

in shame;
נִכְלָ֑ם (niḵ·lām)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3637: To wound, to taunt, insult

may the poor
עָנִ֥י (‘ā·nî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble

and needy
וְ֝אֶבְי֗וֹן (wə·’eḇ·yō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

praise
יְֽהַלְל֥וּ (yə·hal·lū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1984: To shine

Your name.
שְׁמֶֽךָ׃ (šə·me·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name


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OT Poetry: Psalm 74:21 Don't let the oppressed return ashamed (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 74:20
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