Psalms9

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¹ I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

² I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

³ My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.

⁴ For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.

⁵ You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

⁶ Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished.

⁷ The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.

⁸ He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.

⁹ The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

¹¹ Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

¹² For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

¹³ Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

¹⁴ that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation.

¹⁵ The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

¹⁶ The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.

¹⁷ The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸ But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

¹⁹ Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence.

²⁰ Strike them with terror, Lord; let the nations know they are only mortal.

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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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