Psalm 109:12
New International Version
May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children.

New Living Translation
Let no one be kind to him; let no one pity his fatherless children.

English Standard Version
Let there be none to extend kindness to him, nor any to pity his fatherless children!

Berean Standard Bible
May there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to favor his fatherless children.

King James Bible
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.

New King James Version
Let there be none to extend mercy to him, Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children.

New American Standard Bible
May there be none to extend kindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.

NASB 1995
Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.

NASB 1977
Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him, And let there be none to be gracious to his orphans.

Amplified Bible
Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, Nor let anyone be gracious to his fatherless children.

Christian Standard Bible
Let no one show him kindness, and let no one be gracious to his fatherless children.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let no one show him kindness, and let no one be gracious to his fatherless children.

American Standard Version
Let there be none to extend kindness unto him; Neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.

Contemporary English Version
Don't let anyone be kind to him or have pity on the children he leaves behind.

English Revised Version
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him; neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let no one be kind to him anymore. Let no one show any pity to his fatherless children.

Good News Translation
May no one ever be kind to him or care for the orphans he leaves behind.

International Standard Version
May no one extend gracious love to him, or show favor to his fatherless children.

Majority Standard Bible
May there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to favor his fatherless children.

NET Bible
May no one show him kindness! May no one have compassion on his fatherless children!

New Heart English Bible
Let there be none to extend kindness to him, neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let there be none to extend mercy to him: neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.

World English Bible
Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He has none to extend kindness, "" Nor is there one showing favor to his orphans.

Young's Literal Translation
He hath none to extend kindness, Nor is there one showing favour to his orphans.

Smith's Literal Translation
There shall not be to him any drawing out mercy, and there shall not be any compassionating to his orphans.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
May there be none to help him: nor none to pity his fatherless offspring.

Catholic Public Domain Version
May there be no one to assist him, nor anyone to be compassionate to his orphaned children.

New American Bible
May no one treat him with mercy or pity his fatherless children.

New Revised Standard Version
May there be no one to do him a kindness, nor anyone to pity his orphaned children.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let there be none to extend mercy unto them; neither let there be any to pity their fatherless children.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
No one will be compassionate to them, neither will there be one to show mercy to their orphans.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let there be none to extend kindness unto him; Neither let there be any to be gracious unto his fatherless children.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let him have no helper; neither let there be any one to have compassion on his fatherless children.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Song of the Slandered
11May the creditor seize all he owns, and strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. 12May there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to favor his fatherless children. 13May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation.…

Cross References
Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.

James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Matthew 18:33
Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.

Proverbs 28:27
Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need, but he who hides his eyes will receive many curses.

1 John 3:17
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

Luke 16:24-25
So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’ / But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.

Matthew 25:41-45
Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. / For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, / I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’ ...

Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

Romans 12:20
On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Deuteronomy 15:7-8
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. / Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.

Isaiah 58:7
Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Job 6:14
A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.


Treasury of Scripture

Let there be none to extend mercy to him: neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.

none

Isaiah 27:11
When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

James 2:13
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

favour

Psalm 137:8,9
O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us…

Isaiah 13:18
Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

Matthew 27:25
Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

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Children Dead Extend Fatherless Favor Favour Gracious Help Kindness Lovingkindness Mercy Orphans Pity Showing
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Children Dead Extend Fatherless Favor Favour Gracious Help Kindness Lovingkindness Mercy Orphans Pity Showing
Psalm 109
1. David complains of his slanderous enemies
16. He shows their sin
21. Complaining of his own misery, he prays for help
29. He promises thankfulness














May there be none
This phrase is a plea for complete absence of mercy or compassion towards the subject. In the Hebrew text, the word used here is "אַל" (al), which is a strong negation. The psalmist, David, is invoking divine justice against his enemies, reflecting a deep sense of betrayal and injustice. This imprecation is not a personal vendetta but a call for God's righteous judgment, emphasizing the severity of the wrongdoing faced.

to extend kindness
The Hebrew word for "kindness" is "חֶסֶד" (chesed), which often denotes loving-kindness, mercy, or steadfast love. In the context of the Old Testament, chesed is a covenantal term, reflecting God's loyal love towards His people. Here, the psalmist is asking that such covenantal loyalty and mercy be withheld from his adversaries, highlighting the gravity of their transgressions against him.

nor any
This phrase further emphasizes the totality of the request. The psalmist is not only asking for a lack of kindness but also for a complete absence of any form of favor or grace. The repetition underscores the depth of the psalmist's anguish and the seriousness of the offense committed against him.

to favor
The Hebrew root "חָנַן" (chanan) means to show favor, be gracious, or to have pity. In biblical terms, favor is often associated with divine grace and blessing. The psalmist's request for the absence of favor indicates a desire for divine justice rather than human compassion, reflecting a belief in God's ultimate authority to judge rightly.

his fatherless children
The mention of "fatherless children" is poignant, as orphans were among the most vulnerable in ancient Israelite society. The Hebrew word "יָתוֹם" (yatom) refers to an orphan, someone without a father to protect or provide. In a society where family lineage and protection were crucial, being fatherless was a significant disadvantage. The psalmist's invocation here is not a call for harm to innocents but rather a reflection of the cultural understanding that the sins of the father could impact the family, a concept seen throughout the Old Testament. This highlights the seriousness of the curse and the belief in the far-reaching consequences of sin.

Verse 12. - Let there be none to extend (literally, continue) mercy unto him. In his need, let none of his neighbors continue to show him mercy and loving-kindness. Let them stand aloof, and remain passive, while punishment overtakes him. Neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children. Let them too be suffered to endure the woes which come naturally upon them (see ver. 10) through their father's fault, without any one thinking it necessary, because they arc fatherless, to show them favor.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May there be
יְהִ֥י (yə·hî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

none
וְֽאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

to
ל֭וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

extend
מֹשֵׁ֣ךְ (mō·šêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4900: To draw, drag

kindness,
חָ֑סֶד (ḥā·seḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

[and]
יְהִי־ (yə·hî-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

no one
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

to favor
ח֝וֹנֵ֗ן (ḥō·w·nên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore

his fatherless children.
לִיתוֹמָֽיו׃ (lî·ṯō·w·māw)
Preposition | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3490: A bereaved person


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OT Poetry: Psalm 109:12 Let there be none to extend kindness (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 109:11
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