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Psalm chapter 9

English Standard Version

1I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 3When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. 4For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. 5You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. 7But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. 9The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. 11Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! 12For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. 15The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah 17The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. 18For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. 19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! 20Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah
New International Version

New American Standard Bible

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. 2I will rejoice and be jubilant in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. 3When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish before You. 4For You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously. 5You have rebuked the nations, You have eliminated the wicked; You have wiped out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy has come to an end in everlasting ruins, And You have uprooted the cities; The very memory of them has perished. 7But the Lord sits as King forever; He has established His throne for judgment, 8And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples fairly. 9 The Lord will also be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble; 10And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You. 11Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion; Declare His deeds among the peoples. 12For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the needy. 13Be gracious to me, Lord; See my oppression from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, 14So that I may tell of all Your praises, That in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation. 15The nations have sunk down into the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16The Lord has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. A wicked one is ensnared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion Selah 17The wicked will return to Sheol, All the nations who forget God. 18For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. 19Arise, Lord, do not let mankind prevail; Let the nations be judged before You. 20Put them in fear, Lord; Let the nations know that they are merely human. Selah
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

New King James Version

1{To the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Death of the Son.” A Psalm of David.} I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. 2I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. 3When my enemies turn back, They shall fall and perish at Your presence. 4For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. 5You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And you have destroyed cities; Even their memory has perished. 7 But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. 8 He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. 9The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. 10And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. 11Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. 12 When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. 13Have mercy on me, O Lord! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, 14That I may tell of all Your praise In the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation. 15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.

What does Psalm chapter 9 mean?

The introduction to this passage includes an extremely obscure reference, Muth-labben. This might refer to a song which was known in David's time; the term literally means "the death of the son." If so, it would mean this psalm was meant to be sung according to that tune. The use of the also-murky word higgaion (Psalm 9:16) suggests some connection to musical performance. Further, this psalm follows an acrostic pattern, beginning each section with a successive letter from the Hebrew alphabet.

Psalm 9 opens with David's intention to praise the Lord joyfully for all His wonderful deeds. The acts David has in mind were probably military victories, by Israel, against her attackers. David remarks on the total victory possible through God's power; this imagines enemies staggering in their effort to escape (Psalm 9:1–3).

In the same style, David also praises God as a sovereign dispenser of righteous judgment. The term "the nations" often refers to the Gentile people—those not part of the nation of Israel. In that way, it is often used as a symbol of the ungodly world. God's destruction of those who reject Him, or oppose Him, is so thorough that it effectively erases their name from remembrance. Not even a memory of the wicked nations remains (Psalm 9:4–6).

Contrasting the annihilation of the wicked is God, forever in His position of power and status. From that vantage point, God administers justice and righteousness. David also describes God as a haven for those who are oppressed. The language here implies a high, fortified sanctuary. When the ungodly world attacks, those who have faith in the Lord can take refuge in Him. The Lord never forsakes or forgets those who belong to Him. Because of this, the natural reaction of God's people should be praise (Psalm 9:7–12).

After celebrating God's righteousness and justice, David calls on God to rescue him from enemies who hate him and place him in jeopardy of death. David's plea here is trusting, even though he gives no reason for God to save him other than pure grace. This song directly connects God's answer to prayer with instinctive praise from His people (Psalm 9:13–14).

David completes this psalm by previewing the total ruin of all who oppose God. All the wicked and all the nations that refuse to acknowledge God will perish. However, the needy will not be forgotten, and the hope of the poor will never perish. Though David is speaking of his own era, and his own experiences, this serves to foreshadow the total victory of Christ when He returns (Revelation 19:11–15). David closes Psalm 9 with the prayer that the Lord judge the nations, put them in fear, and remind them that they are simply men (Psalm 9:15–20).
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