Psalms9

American Standard Version · Public Domain

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¹ I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works.

² I will be glad and exult in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.

³ When mine enemies turn back, They stumble and perish at thy presence.

⁴ For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; Thou sittest in the throne judging righteously.

⁵ Thou hast rebuked the nations, thou hast destroyed the wicked; Thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever.

⁶ The enemy are come to an end, they are desolate for ever; And the cities which thou hast overthrown, The very remembrance of them is perished.

⁷ But Jehovah sitteth as king for ever: He hath prepared his throne for judgment;

⁸ And he will judge the world in righteousness, He will minister judgment to the peoples in uprightness.

⁹ Jehovah also will be a high tower for the oppressed, A high tower in times of trouble;

¹⁰ And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; For thou, Jehovah, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

¹¹ Sing praises to Jehovah, who dwelleth in Zion: Declare among the people his doings.

¹² For he that maketh inquisition for blood remembereth them; He forgetteth not the cry of the poor.

¹³ Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah; Behold my affliction which I suffer of them that hate me, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death;

¹⁴ That I may show forth all thy praise. In the gates of the daughter of Zion I will rejoice in thy salvation.

¹⁵ The nations are sunk down in the pit that they made: In the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

¹⁶ Jehovah hath made himself known, he hath executed judgment: The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah

¹⁷ The wicked shall be turned back unto Sheol, Even all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸ For the needy shall not alway be forgotten, Nor the expectation of the poor perish for ever.

¹⁹ Arise, O Jehovah; let not man prevail: Let the nations be judged in thy sight.

²⁰ Put them in fear, O Jehovah: Let the nations know themselves to be but men. Selah

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Psalms 9

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 9. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: David praises God for protecting his people. (1–10). And for cause to praise him. (11–20).

vv1-10

If we would praise God acceptably, we must praise him in sincerity, with our whole heart. When we give thanks for some one particular mercy, we should remember former mercies. Our joy must not be in the gift, so much as in the Giver. The triumphs of the Redeemer ought to be the triumphs of the redeemed. The almighty power of God is that which the strongest and stoutest of his enemies are no way able to stand before. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, and that with him there is no unrighteousness. His people may, by faith, flee to him as their Refuge, and may depend on his power and promise for their safety, so that no real hurt shall be done to them. Those who know him to be a God of truth and faithfulness, will rejoice in his word of promise, and rest upon that. Those who know him to be an everlasting Father, will trust him with their souls as their main care, and trust in him at all times, even to the end; and by constant care seek to approve themselves to him in the whole course of their lives. Who is there that would not seek him, who never hath forsaken those that seek Him?

vv11-20

Those who believe that God is greatly to be praised, not only desire to praise him better themselves, but desire that others may join with them. There is a day coming, when it will appear that he has not forgotten the cry of the humble; neither the cry of their blood, or the cry of their prayers. We are never brought so low, so near to death, but God can raise us up. If he has saved us from spiritual and eternal death, we may thence hope, that in all our distresses he will be a very present help to us. The overruling providence of God frequently so orders it, that persecutors and oppressors are brought to ruin by the projects they formed to destroy the people of God. Drunkards kill themselves; prodigals beggar themselves; the contentious bring mischief upon themselves: thus men's sins may be read in their punishment, and it becomes plain to all, that the destruction of sinners is of themselves. All wickedness came originally with the wicked one from hell; and those who continue in sin, must go to that place of torment. The true state, both of nations and of individuals, may be correctly estimated by this one rule, whether in their doings they remember or forget God. David encourages the people of God to wait for his salvation, though it should be long deferred. God will make it appear that he never did forget them: it is not possible he should. Strange that man, dust in his and about him, should yet need some sharp affliction, some severe visitation from God, to bring him to the knowledge of himself, and make him feel who and what he is.

Key Words

choirmasterH5329Hebrew

נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent

PsalmH4210Hebrew

מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes

DavidH1732Hebrew

דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse

give thanksH3034Hebrew

יָדָה: physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands)

wholeH3605Hebrew

כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

heartH3820Hebrew

לֵב: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything

recountH5608Hebrew

סָפַר: properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate

wonderfulH6381Hebrew

פָּלָא: properly, perhaps to separate, i.e. distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful

gladH8055Hebrew

שָׂמַח: probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome

exultH5970Hebrew

עָלַץ: to jump for joy, i.e. exult

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