Psalm 9

"A refuge for the oppressed"

Purpose: To petition the divine king to the aid of the oppressed.

Content: “Rise up, YHWH! You've avenged the oppressed in the past but You are now standing at a distance.”

Message: YHWH has established his throne for justice (9:8b).

Author: David

Videos

Exegetical Issues Video

Please note that we have decided to regard Psalms 9 and 10 as one Psalm. Therefore, while the verse-by-verse notes will cover each psalm individually, this at-a-glance section for both psalms will feature the combined visual.

Overview

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 9.

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1. For the director, according to Muth-labben.

A psalm by David.

2. I will praise YHWH with all my heart;

I will tell about all your wonderful works!

3. I will rejoice and exult because of you;

I will sing praise to your name, Most High!

4. When my enemies turn back,

they stumble and perish because of your presence,

5. because you have accomplished my right and my claim;

you have sat on a throne as a righteous judge.

6. You rebuked nations; you destroyed the wicked;

you blotted out their name forever and ever.

7. The enemy came to an end in ruins forever,

and you uprooted cities.

The very memory of them perished.

8. But YHWH will sit enthroned forever;

he has established his throne for justice,

9. and he will judge the world with righteousness;

he will execute justice for the peoples with fairness.

10. And may YHWH be a refuge for the oppressed,

a refuge in distressing times.

11. And may those who know your name put their trust in you,

because you have not abandoned those who seek you, YHWH.

12. Sing praise to YHWH, who sits enthroned in Zion!

Tell about his deeds among the peoples,

13. because the one who requires a reckoning for bloodshed has remembered them;

he has not ignored the outcry of the afflicted.

14. Have mercy on me, YHWH! See my affliction from those who hate me,

you who lift me up from the gates of death,

15. so that I may tell about all your praiseworthy actions

at the gates of daughter Zion,

[and so that] I may be glad because of your salvation!

16. Nations sank in a pit which they had made;

their foot was caught in a net which they had hidden.

17. YHWH, who has accomplished justice, has made himself known,

ensnaring the wicked by the work of his hands. Higgaion Selah

18. The wicked will return to Sheol,

all nations that ignore God.

19. For the poor will not be ignored forever;

the hope of the afflicted will [not] perish forever.

20. Rise up, YHWH! Let humanity not prevail;

let nations be judged in your presence!

21. YHWH, put a fearful thing among them;

let the nations know that they are human. Selah

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 9, click here.

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 9 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

• v. 1
• v. 2
• v. 3
• v. 4
• v. 5
• v. 6
• v. 7
• v. 8
• v. 9
• v. 10
• v. 11
• v. 12
• v. 13
• v. 14
• v. 15
• v. 16
• v. 17
• v. 18
• v. 19
• v. 20
• v. 21

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Exegetical Issues

• Were Psalm 9 and 10 Originally One Psalm?
• The Verbal Semantics of Psalm 9:4
• The Grammar and Meaning of Psalm 9:7
• The Meaning of מוֹרָה in Ps 9:21