Psalm 9 Verse-by-Verse

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Welcome to the DRAFT Verse-by-Verse Notes for Psalm 9!

The Verse-by-Verse Notes present scholarly, exegetical materials (from all layers of analysis) in a verse-by-verse format. They often present alternative interpretive options and justification for a preferred interpretation. The Verse-by-Verse Notes are aimed at consultant-level users.

The discussion of each verse of this psalm includes the following items.

1. A link to the part of the overview video where the verse in question is discussed.
2. The verse in Hebrew and English.
3. An expanded paraphrase of the verse.
4. A grammatical diagram of the verse, which includes glosses for each word and phrase.
5. A series of notes on the verse, which contain information pertaining to the interpretation of the psalm (e.g., meaning of words and phrases, poetic features, difficult grammatical constructions, etc.).

Superscription (v. 1)

v. 1

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
1a	לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ עַלְמ֥וּת לַבֵּ֗ן	For the director, according to Muth-labben.
1b	מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃	A psalm by David.

Expanded Paraphrase

For the director, according to Muth-labben. A psalm (written) by David.

Grammatical Diagram

Notes

• The phrase עַלמוּת לַבֵּן has been a source of differences among translations. Compare, for example the NIV ‘To the tune of “The Death of the Son”’; the NKJV ‘upon Muthlabben’; the NET ‘...according to the alumoth-labben style’, etc. The issue may be approached by asking two questions. (1) Should the word עלמות be read as one word or two? (2) If read as one word, what is the meaning? A few ancient versions and some Hebrew manuscripts reflect two words here על מות, in which case the full phrase על מות לבן due to the grammar must mean ‘regarding a death of the son’.‘The genitive is usually avoided and replaced by ל when the second noun is determinate but the first one is logically indeterminate’ Upon an initial reading, however, this phrase is unlikely, since ‘a death’ would suggest that the son referred to experiences more than one death. Thus, if trying to interpret the Masoretic Text reading two words here results in a meaning that makes little sense. If read as one word, the consonants עלמות may give rise to several readings due to the number of words whose root are the letters עלם. The LXX translates these consonants as κρυφίων ‘(of the) secrets’ which would presumabely reflect the vocalisation עֲלֻמוֹת ‘those things which are concealed’ from the root עלם ‘to conceal’. A few ancient witnesses use a greek word meaning ‘youthfulness’ in which case the vocalisation is as it stands in the MT—עַלמוּת—and is interpreted as an abstract noun from the same root from which the words עֶלֶם ‘young man’ and עַלְמָה ‘young woman’ are derived.

Praise of the King (vv. 2-11)

vv. 2-5

v. 2

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
2a	אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־לִבִּ֑י	I will praise YHWH with all my heart;
2b	אֲ֝סַפְּרָ֗ה כָּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃	I will tell about all your wonderful works!

Expanded Paraphrase

I will praise YHWH with all my heart; I will tell about all your wonderful works (with which you terrify your enemies)!

Grammatical Diagram

v. 3

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
3a	אֶשְׂמְחָ֣ה וְאֶעֶלְצָ֣ה בָ֑ךְ	I will rejoice and exult because of you;
3b	אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה שִׁמְךָ֣ עֶלְיֽוֹן׃	I will sing praise to your name, Most High!

Expanded Paraphrase

I will rejoice and exult because of you; I will sing praise to your name (, which is revealed through those wonderful works), Most High!

Grammatical Diagram

v. 4

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
4a	בְּשׁוּב־אוֹיְבַ֥י אָח֑וֹר	When my enemies turn back,
4b	יִכָּשְׁל֥וּ וְ֝יֹאבְד֗וּ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃	they stumble and perish because of your presence,

Expanded Paraphrase

When my enemies (who are foreign nations) turn back, they stumble and perish because of your (terrifying) presence, (for the wicked cannot stand before you [Psa 1:4; 5:6])!

Grammatical Diagram

v. 5

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
5a	כִּֽי־עָ֭שִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י וְדִינִ֑י	because you have accomplished my right and my claim;
5b	יָשַׁ֥בְתָּ לְ֝כִסֵּ֗א שׁוֹפֵ֥ט צֶֽדֶק׃	you have sat on a throne as a righteous judge.

Expanded Paraphrase

because you have accomplished my right and my claim (that I have because I am unjustly afflicted); (you are a king,) (whose responsibilities include judging and caring for the poor, afflicted and oppressed). You have sat on a throne as a righteous judge.

Grammatical Diagram

vv. 6-7

v. 6

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
6a	גָּעַ֣רְתָּ ג֭וֹיִם אִבַּ֣דְתָּ רָשָׁ֑ע	You rebuked nations; you destroyed the wicked;
6b	׃שְׁמָ֥ם מָ֝חִ֗יתָ לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃	you blotted out their name forever and ever.

Expanded Paraphrase

(In the past,) (when wicked nations attacked as they are attacking now) You rebuked nations (due to their hostility towards you [cf. Psa 2; Isa 17:13) (when they defiled your land with innocent blood); you destroyed the wicked; you blotted out their name forever and ever (so that their acts would never again be remembered).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 7

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
7a	הָֽאוֹיֵ֨ב ׀ תַּ֥מּוּ חֳרָב֗וֹת לָ֫נֶ֥צַח	The enemy came to an end in ruins forever,
7b	וְעָרִ֥ים נָתַ֑שְׁתָּ	and you uprooted cities.
7c	אָבַ֖ד זִכְרָ֣ם הֵֽמָּה׃	The very memory of them perished.

Expanded Paraphrase

The enemy came to an end in ruins forever, and you uprooted cities. The very memory of them perished.

Grammatical Diagram

vv. 8-11

v. 8

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
8a	וַֽ֭יהוָה לְעוֹלָ֣ם יֵשֵׁ֑ב	But YHWH will sit enthroned forever;
8b	כּוֹנֵ֖ן לַמִּשְׁפָּ֣ט כִּסְאֽוֹ׃	he has established his throne for justice,

Expanded Paraphrase

But YHWH (unlike the wicked whose memory has perished) will sit enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice,

Grammatical Diagram

v. 9

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
9a	וְה֗וּא יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק	and he will judge the world with righteousness;
9b	יָדִ֥ין לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃	he will execute justice for the peoples with fairness.

Expanded Paraphrase

and he will judge the world (of which he is the creator) with righteousness; he will execute justice for the peoples with fairness.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 10

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
10a	וִ֘יהִ֤י יְהוָ֣ה מִשְׂגָּ֣ב לַדָּ֑ךְ	And may YHWH be a refuge for the oppressed,
10b	מִ֝שְׂגָּ֗ב לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃	a refuge in distressing times.

Expanded Paraphrase

And may YHWH (who, being creator, is the only one who has the power to reverse the social order [1 Sam 2:8]) be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in distressing times.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 11

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
11a	וְיִבְטְח֣וּ בְ֭ךָ יוֹדְעֵ֣י שְׁמֶ֑ךָ	And may those who know your name put their trust in you,
11b	כִּ֤י לֹֽא־עָזַ֖בְתָּ דֹרְשֶׁ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה׃	because you have not abandoned those who seek you, YHWH.

Expanded Paraphrase

And may those who know your name (and your promises) put their trust in you, because you have not abandoned those who seek you, YHWH(, in accordance with your promise that those who seek you find you [Deut 4:29]).

Grammatical Diagram

Petition the King (vv. 12-21)

vv. 12-15

v. 12

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
12a	זַמְּר֗וּ לַ֭יהוָה יֹשֵׁ֣ב צִיּ֑וֹן	Sing praise to YHWH, who sits enthroned in Zion!
12b	הַגִּ֥ידוּ בָ֝עַמִּ֗ים עֲלִֽילוֹתָֽיו׃	Tell about his deeds among the peoples,

Expanded Paraphrase

Sing praise to YHWH, who sits enthroned in Zion (the place from which YHWH rules) (because his presence there secures the city) (and ensures justice) (as was the responsibility of the king)! Tell about his deeds among the peoples,

Grammatical Diagram

v. 13

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
13a	כִּֽי־דֹרֵ֣שׁ דָּ֭מִים אוֹתָ֣ם זָכָ֑ר	because the one who requires a reckoning for bloodshed has remembered them;
13b	לֹֽא־שָׁ֝כַ֗ח צַעֲקַ֥ת עניים עֲנָוִֽים׃	he has not ignored the outcry of the afflicted.

Expanded Paraphrase

because the one who requires a reckoning for bloodshed has remembered them (since bloodshed pollutes his land); he has not ignored the outcry of the afflicted (whose innocent blood is spilled at the hands of the wicked).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 14

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
14a	חָֽנְנֵ֬נִי יְהוָ֗ה רְאֵ֣ה עָ֭נְיִי מִשֹּׂנְאָ֑י	Have mercy on me, YHWH! See my affliction from those who hate me,
14b	מְ֝רוֹמְמִ֗י מִשַּׁ֥עֲרֵי מָֽוֶת׃	you who lift me up from the gates of death,

Expanded Paraphrase

(I am among those who are afflicted yet innocent!) Have mercy on me, YHWH! (Since you have destroyed wicked nations before) See my affliction from those (foreign enemies) who hate me, you who lifts my head from the gates of death (who saves me) (from deaths inescapable power). (I am near death at the hands of my enemies and) (so I am asking you to save me!)

Grammatical Diagram

v. 15

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
15a	לְמַ֥עַן אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה כָּֽל־תְּהִלָּ֫תֶ֥יךָ	so that I may tell about all your praiseworthy actions
15b	בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵ֥י בַת־צִיּ֑וֹן	at the gates of daughter Zion,
15c	אָ֝גִ֗ילָה בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃	[and so that] I may be glad because of your salvation!

Expanded Paraphrase

so that I may tell about all your praiseworthy actions (not at the gates of death, but) at the gates of daughter Zion (among your holy people) (in the city over which you rule), [and so that] I may be glad because of your salvation!

Grammatical Diagram

vv. 16-17

v. 16

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
16a	טָבְע֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם בְּשַׁ֣חַת עָשׂ֑וּ	Nations sank in a pit which they had made;
16b	בְּרֶֽשֶׁת־ז֥וּ טָ֝מָ֗נוּ נִלְכְּדָ֥ה רַגְלָֽם׃	their foot was caught in a net which they had hidden.

Expanded Paraphrase

(Previous nations defiled your world by spilling innocent blood and oppressing the poor and afflicted.) (The only thing that can cover innocent blood is the blood of the one who spilled it [Num. 35:33].) (Israel had a proverb that illustrated this principle of retribution): Nations sank in a pit which they had made; their foot was caught in a net which they had hidden.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 17

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
17a	נ֤וֹדַ֨ע ׀ יְהוָה֮ מִשְׁפָּ֪ט עָ֫שָׂ֥ה	YHWH, who has accomplished justice, has made himself known,
17b	בְּפֹ֣עַל כַּ֭פָּיו נוֹקֵ֣שׁ רָשָׁ֑ע הִגָּי֥וֹן סֶֽלָה׃	ensnaring the wicked by the work of his hands. Higgaion Selah

Expanded Paraphrase

YHWH, who has accomplished justice, has made himself known (through his acts), (namely) ensnaring the wicked by the work of his hands (by which YHWH enacts the principle of retribution).

Grammatical Diagram

vv. 18-21

v. 18

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
18a	יָשׁ֣וּבוּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים לִשְׁא֑וֹלָה	The wicked will return to Sheol,
18b	כָּל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם שְׁכֵחֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃	all nations that ignore God.

Expanded Paraphrase

(All people came from nothingness) (and sinful, wicked people will return to this nothingness [Gen 3:19; Job 1:21; 30:23; Psa 90:3; 104:29]). The wicked will return to Sheol, all nations that ignore God (their maker) (and his path to life).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 19

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
19a	כִּ֤י לֹ֣א לָ֭נֶצַח יִשָּׁכַ֣ח אֶבְי֑וֹן	For the poor will not be ignored forever;
19b	תִּקְוַ֥ת עֲ֝נִיִּ֗ים תֹּאבַ֥ד לָעַֽד׃	the hope of the afflicted will [not] perish forever.

Expanded Paraphrase

For the poor will not be ignored forever; the hope of the afflicted will [not] perish forever.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 20

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
20a	קוּמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אַל־יָעֹ֣ז אֱנ֑וֹשׁ	Rise up, YHWH! Let not humanity prevail;
20b	יִשָּׁפְט֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם עַל־פָּנֶֽיךָ׃	let nations be judged in your presence!

Expanded Paraphrase

Rise up, YHWH! Let not humanity (who will return to nothingness) prevail; let nations be judged in your presence!

Grammatical Diagram

v. 21

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
21a	שִׁ֘יתָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ מוֹרָ֗ה לָ֫הֶ֥ם	YHWH, put a fearful thing among them;
21b	יֵדְע֥וּ גוֹיִ֑ם אֱנ֖וֹשׁ הֵ֣מָּה סֶּֽלָה׃	let the nations know that they are human. Selah

Expanded Paraphrase

YHWH (you make yourself known) (through your terrifying acts), put a fearful thing among them; (act to save the oppressed before them!) let the nations know that they are human.

Grammatical Diagram

Legends

Grammatical diagram

Visualization	Description
	The clause is represented by a horizontal line with a vertical line crossing through it, separating the subject and the verb.
	The object is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause. Infinitives and participles may also have objects. If the direct object marker (d.o.m.) is present in the text, it appears in the diagram immediately before the object. If the grammar includes a secondary object, the secondary object will appear after the object, separated by another vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause.
	The subject complement follows the verb (often omitted in Hebrew) separated with a line leaning toward the right. It can be a noun, a whole prepositional phrase or an adjective. The later two appear modifying the complement slot.
	When a noun further describes or renames the object, it is an object complement. The object complement follows the object separated by a line leaning toward the right.
	In a construct chain, the noun in the absolute form modifies the noun in the construct form.
	Participles are indicated in whatever position in the clause they are in with a curved line before the participle. Participles can occur as nominal, where they take the place of a noun, predicate, where they take the place of a verb, or attributive, where they modify a noun or a verb similar to adjectives or adverbs.
	Infinitives are indicated by two parallel lines before the infinitive that cross the horizontal line. Infinitive constructs can appear as the verb in an embedded clause. Infinitive absolutes typically appear as an adverbial.
	The subject of the infinitive often appears in construct to it. In this situation, the infinitive and subject are diagrammed as a construct chain.
	The object of the infinitive is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the infinitival clause.
	Modifiers are represented by a solid diagonal line from the word they modify. They can attach to verbs, adjectives, or nouns. If modifying a verb or adjective, it is an adverb, but if modifying a noun, it is an adjective, a quantifier, or a definite article. If an adverb is modifying a modifier, it is connected to the modifier by a small dashed horizontal line.
	Adverbials are indicated by a dashed diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. These are nouns or infinitives that function adverbially (modifying either a verb or a participle), but are not connected by a preposition.
	Prepositional phrases are indicated by a solid diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. The preposition is to the left of the diagonal line and the dependent of the preposition is on the horizontal line. They can modify verbs (adverbial) or nouns (adjectival).
	Embedded clauses are indicated by a "stand" that looks like an upside-down Y. The stand rests in the grammatical position that the clause fulfills. Extending from the top of the stand is a horizontal line for the clause. If introduced by a complementizer, for example כִּי, the complementizer appears before the stand. Embedded clauses can stand in the place of any noun.
	When clauses are joined by a conjunction, they are compound clauses. These clauses are connected by a vertical dotted line. The conjunction is placed next to the dotted line.
	Within a clause, if two or more parts of speech are compound, these are represented by angled lines reaching to the two compound elements connected by a solid vertical line. If a conjunction is used, the conjunction appears to the left of the vertical line. Almost all parts of speech can be compound.
	Subordinate clauses are indicated by a dashed line coming from the line dividing the subject from the predicate in the independent clause and leading to the horizontal line of the subordinate clause. The subordinating conjunction appears next to the dashed line.
	Relative clauses also have a dashed line, but the line connects the antecedent to the horizontal line of the relative clause. The relative particle appears next to the dashed line.
	Sentence fragments are represented by a horizontal line with no vertical lines. They are most frequently used in superscriptions to psalms. They are visually similar to discourse particles and vocatives, but most often consist of a noun phrase (that does not refer to a person or people group) or a prepositional phrase.
	In the body of the psalm, a horizontal line by itself (with no modifiers or vertical lines) can indicate either a discourse particle or a vocative (if the word is a noun referring to a person or people group). A discourse particle is a conjunction or particle that functions at the discourse level, not at the grammatical level. Vocatives can appear either before or after the clause addressed to them, depending on the word order of the Hebrew.
	Apposition is indicated by an equal sign equating the two noun phrases. This can occur with a noun in any function in a sentence.

Hebrew text colors
Default preferred text	The default preferred reading is represented by a black line. The text of the MT is represented in bold black text.
Dispreferred reading	The dispreferred reading is an alternative interpretation of the grammar, represented by a pink line. The text of the MT is represented in bold pink text, while emendations and revocalizations retain their corresponding colors (see below).
Emended text	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold blue text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred.
Revocalized text	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold purple text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred.
(Supplied elided element)	Any element that is elided in the Hebrew text is represented by bold gray text in parentheses.
( )	The position of a non-supplied elided element is represented by empty black parentheses. For example, this would be used in the place of the noun when an adjective functions substantivally or in the place of the antecedent when a relative clause has an implied antecedent.

Gloss text colors
Gloss used in the CBC	The gloss used in the Close-but-Clear translation is represented by bold blue text.
Literal gloss >> derived meaning	A gloss that shows the more literal meaning as well as the derived figurative meaning is represented in blue text with arrows pointing towards the more figurative meaning. The gloss used in the CBC will be bolded.
Supplied elided element	The gloss for a supplied elided element is represented in bold gray text.

Shapes and colours on grammatical diagram

Visualization	Description
	The prepositional phrase is indicated by a solid green oval.
	The construct chain is indicated by a solid yellow oval.
	When the conjunction ו appears at the phrase-level (not clause-level), it is indicated by a solid light purple oval.
	The article is indicated by a solid blue oval.

Expanded paraphrase

(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)

Expanded Paraphrase Legend

Expanded paraphrase legend
Close but Clear (CBC) translation	The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text.
Assumptions	Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics.

References

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