Now the psalmist appeals to Yahweh for protection against his enemies. The LORD knows his situation (verse 22a), and so the psalmist asks him to take action (verse 22a-b); see 28.1 for be not silent, and 22.1 for be not far from me. The initial statement Thou hast seen uses the same verb that at the end of verse 21 is used by the psalmist’s enemies. Whereas they lie when they say “We saw what you did!” (Good News Translation), the psalmist knows that Yahweh has seen what his enemies are doing. So he asks Yahweh to speak up (be not silent!) and denounce his enemies.

In verse 23, with two verbs the psalmist asks Yahweh to Bestir himself, to awake (both verbs also in 44.23); both verbs are used of someone awaking or rousing himself from sleep. Bestir thyself, and awake are parallel expressions meaning “Awaken!” This expression has a sense similar to 7.6, “Arise, O LORD … awake….” The two verbs in verse 23 give an order for only one action: awake. It is not necessary to seek explanation in the Canaanite fertility rites in which the vegetation deity was awakened in the spring. The psalmist is calling on God to act, and he does this through the figure of awakening him from sleep. Good News Translation has translated a parallel line using “rise up.” The translator may follow the single figure of awakening as in Revised Standard Version, which reflects the Hebrew, or the “awake and rise” figures of Good News Translation. If the translator follows Good News Translation, in some languages “rise up” must specify whether from a lying or sitting position.

The two expressions for my right, for my cause are legal language and mean that Yahweh is to see that justice is done, that right prevail, and that the psalmist’s cause be successfully defended in court.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .