Psalm 9 Text
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Psalm 9/Text
Choose a PsalmNavigate Psalm 9
A refuge for the oppressed
Psalm 9
Please note: Resources for Psalm 9 are in the process of being reformatted for visual consistency and improved functionality.
Listen & Read: Psalm 9
Read along and listen to our audio recordings for Psalm 9. Choose between simple, unaffected audio recordings (in Hebrew or English), or a dramatized reading that takes into account our emotional and discourse analyses. You can also choose between a text-only view, or a view overlaid with our summary At-a-Glance, Expanded Paraphrase, or Participant Analysis tracking.
| Simple Reading (Hebrew) Forthcoming. |
Simple Reading (English) Forthcoming. |
| Dramatic Reading (Hebrew) Forthcoming. |
Dramatic Reading (English) Forthcoming. |
Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.
| Text (Hebrew) | Verse | Text (CBC) |
|---|---|---|
| לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ עַלְמ֥וּת לַבֵּ֗ן מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ | 1a | For the director, according to Muth-labben. A psalm by David. |
| אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־לִבִּ֑י | 2a | I will praise YHWH with all my heart; |
| אֲ֝סַפְּרָ֗ה כָּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ | 2b | I will tell about all your wonderful works! |
| אֶשְׂמְחָ֣ה וְאֶעֶלְצָ֣ה בָ֑ךְ | 3a | I will rejoice and exult because of you; |
| אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה שִׁמְךָ֣ עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ | 3b | I will sing praise to your name, Most High! |
| בְּשׁוּב־אוֹיְבַ֥י אָח֑וֹר | 4a | When my enemies turn back, |
| יִכָּשְׁל֥וּ וְ֝יֹאבְד֗וּ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃ | 4b | they stumble and perish because of your presence, |
| כִּֽי־עָ֭שִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י וְדִינִ֑י | 5a | because you have accomplished my right and my claim; |
| יָשַׁ֥בְתָּ לְ֝כִסֵּ֗א שׁוֹפֵ֥ט צֶֽדֶק׃ | 5b | you have sat on a throne as a righteous judge. |
| גָּעַ֣רְתָּ ג֭וֹיִם אִבַּ֣דְתָּ רָשָׁ֑ע | 6a | You rebuked nations; you destroyed the wicked; |
| שְׁמָ֥ם מָ֝חִ֗יתָ לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ | 6b | you blotted out their name forever and ever. |
| הָֽאוֹיֵ֨ב ׀ תַּ֥מּוּ חֳרָב֗וֹת לָ֫נֶ֥צַח | 7a | The enemy came to an end in ruins forever, |
| וְעָרִ֥ים נָתַ֑שְׁתָּ | 7b | and you uprooted cities. |
| אָבַ֖ד זִכְרָ֣ם הֵֽמָּה׃ | 7c | The very memory of them perished. |
| וַֽ֭יהוָה לְעוֹלָ֣ם יֵשֵׁ֑ב | 8a | But YHWH will sit enthroned forever; |
| כּוֹנֵ֖ן לַמִּשְׁפָּ֣ט כִּסְאֽוֹ׃ | 8b | he has established his throne for justice, |
| וְה֗וּא יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק | 9a | and he will judge the world with righteousness; |
| יָדִ֥ין לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ | 9b | he will execute justice for the peoples with fairness. |
| וִ֘יהִ֤י יְהוָ֣ה מִשְׂגָּ֣ב לַדָּ֑ךְ | 10a | And may YHWH be a refuge for the oppressed, |
| מִ֝שְׂגָּ֗ב לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃ | 10b | a refuge in distressing times. |
| וְיִבְטְח֣וּ בְ֭ךָ יוֹדְעֵ֣י שְׁמֶ֑ךָ | 11a | And may those who know your name put their trust in you, |
| כִּ֤י לֹֽא־עָזַ֖בְתָּ דֹרְשֶׁ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה׃ | 11b | because you have not abandoned those who seek you, YHWH. |
| זַמְּר֗וּ לַ֭יהוָה יֹשֵׁ֣ב צִיּ֑וֹן | 12a | Sing praise to YHWH, who sits enthroned in Zion! |
| הַגִּ֥ידוּ בָ֝עַמִּ֗ים עֲלִֽילוֹתָֽיו׃ | 12b | Tell about his deeds among the peoples, |
| כִּֽי־דֹרֵ֣שׁ דָּ֭מִים אוֹתָ֣ם זָכָ֑ר | 13a | because the one who requires a reckoning for bloodshed has remembered them; |
| לֹֽא־שָׁ֝כַ֗ח צַעֲקַ֥ת עֲנָוִֽים׃ | 13b | he has not ignored the outcry of the afflicted. |
| חָֽנְנֵ֬נִי יְהוָ֗ה רְאֵ֣ה עָ֭נְיִי מִשֹּׂנְאָ֑י | 14a | Have mercy on me, YHWH! See my affliction from those who hate me, |
| מְ֝רוֹמְמִ֗י מִשַּׁ֥עֲרֵי מָֽוֶת׃ | 14b | you who lift my head from the gates of death, |
| לְמַ֥עַן אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה כָּֽל־תְּהִלָּ֫תֶ֥יךָ | 15a | so that I may tell about all your praiseworthy actions |
| בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵ֥י בַת־צִיּ֑וֹן | 15b | at the gates of daughter Zion, |
| אָ֝גִ֗ילָה בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃ | 15c | [and so that] I may be glad because of your salvation! |
| טָבְע֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם בְּשַׁ֣חַת עָשׂ֑וּ | 16a | Nations sank in a pit which they had made; |
| בְּרֶֽשֶׁת־ז֥וּ טָ֝מָ֗נוּ נִלְכְּדָ֥ה רַגְלָֽם׃ | 16b | their foot was caught in a net which they had hidden. |
| נ֤וֹדַ֨ע ׀ יְהוָה֮ מִשְׁפָּ֪ט עָ֫שָׂ֥ה | 17a | YHWH, who has accomplished justice, has made himself known, |
| בְּפֹ֣עַל כַּ֭פָּיו נוֹקֵ֣שׁ רָשָׁ֑ע הִגָּי֥וֹן סֶֽלָה׃ | 17b | ensnaring the wicked by the work of his hands. Higgaion Selah |
| יָשׁ֣וּבוּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים לִשְׁא֑וֹלָה | 18a | The wicked will return to Sheol, |
| כָּל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם שְׁכֵחֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃ | 18b | all nations that ignore God. |
| כִּ֤י לֹ֣א לָ֭נֶצַח יִשָּׁכַ֣ח אֶבְי֑וֹן | 19a | For the poor will not be ignored forever; |
| תִּקְוַ֥ת עֲ֝נִיִּ֗ים תֹּאבַ֥ד לָעַֽד׃ | 19b | the hope of the afflicted will [not] perish forever. |
| קוּמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אַל־יָעֹ֣ז אֱנ֑וֹשׁ | 20a | Rise up, YHWH! Let humanity not prevail; |
| יִשָּׁפְט֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם עַל־פָּנֶֽיךָ׃ | 20b | let nations be judged in your presence! |
| שִׁ֘יתָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ מוֹרָ֗ה לָ֫הֶ֥ם | 21a | YHWH, put a fearful thing among them; |
| יֵדְע֥וּ גוֹיִ֑ם אֱנ֖וֹשׁ הֵ֣מָּה סֶּֽלָה׃ | 21b | let the nations know that they are human. Selah |
Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.
| Text (Hebrew) | Verse | Text (CBC) |
|---|---|---|
| לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ עַלְמ֥וּת לַבֵּ֗ן מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ | 1a | For the director, according to Muth-labben. A psalm by David. |
| אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־לִבִּ֑י | 2a | I will praise YHWH with all my heart; |
| אֲ֝סַפְּרָ֗ה כָּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ | 2b | I will tell about all your wonderful works! |
| אֶשְׂמְחָ֣ה וְאֶעֶלְצָ֣ה בָ֑ךְ | 3a | I will rejoice and exult because of you; |
| אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה שִׁמְךָ֣ עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ | 3b | I will sing praise to your name, Most High! |
| בְּשׁוּב־אוֹיְבַ֥י אָח֑וֹר | 4a | When my enemies turn back, |
| יִכָּשְׁל֥וּ וְ֝יֹאבְד֗וּ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃ | 4b | they stumble and perish because of your presence, |
| כִּֽי־עָ֭שִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י וְדִינִ֑י | 5a | because you have accomplished my right and my claim; |
| יָשַׁ֥בְתָּ לְ֝כִסֵּ֗א שׁוֹפֵ֥ט צֶֽדֶק׃ | 5b | you have sat on a throne as a righteous judge. |
| גָּעַ֣רְתָּ ג֭וֹיִם אִבַּ֣דְתָּ רָשָׁ֑ע | 6a | You rebuked nations; you destroyed the wicked; |
| שְׁמָ֥ם מָ֝חִ֗יתָ לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ | 6b | you blotted out their name forever and ever. |
| הָֽאוֹיֵ֨ב ׀ תַּ֥מּוּ חֳרָב֗וֹת לָ֫נֶ֥צַח | 7a | The enemy came to an end in ruins forever, |
| וְעָרִ֥ים נָתַ֑שְׁתָּ | 7b | and you uprooted cities. |
| אָבַ֖ד זִכְרָ֣ם הֵֽמָּה׃ | 7c | The very memory of them perished. |
| וַֽ֭יהוָה לְעוֹלָ֣ם יֵשֵׁ֑ב | 8a | But YHWH will sit enthroned forever; |
| כּוֹנֵ֖ן לַמִּשְׁפָּ֣ט כִּסְאֽוֹ׃ | 8b | he has established his throne for justice, |
| וְה֗וּא יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק | 9a | and he will judge the world with righteousness; |
| יָדִ֥ין לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ | 9b | he will execute justice for the peoples with fairness. |
| וִ֘יהִ֤י יְהוָ֣ה מִשְׂגָּ֣ב לַדָּ֑ךְ | 10a | And may YHWH be a refuge for the oppressed, |
| מִ֝שְׂגָּ֗ב לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃ | 10b | a refuge in distressing times. |
| וְיִבְטְח֣וּ בְ֭ךָ יוֹדְעֵ֣י שְׁמֶ֑ךָ | 11a | And may those who know your name put their trust in you, |
| כִּ֤י לֹֽא־עָזַ֖בְתָּ דֹרְשֶׁ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה׃ | 11b | because you have not abandoned those who seek you, YHWH. |
| זַמְּר֗וּ לַ֭יהוָה יֹשֵׁ֣ב צִיּ֑וֹן | 12a | Sing praise to YHWH, who sits enthroned in Zion! |
| הַגִּ֥ידוּ בָ֝עַמִּ֗ים עֲלִֽילוֹתָֽיו׃ | 12b | Tell about his deeds among the peoples, |
| כִּֽי־דֹרֵ֣שׁ דָּ֭מִים אוֹתָ֣ם זָכָ֑ר | 13a | because the one who requires a reckoning for bloodshed has remembered them; |
| לֹֽא־שָׁ֝כַ֗ח צַעֲקַ֥ת עֲנָוִֽים׃ | 13b | he has not ignored the outcry of the afflicted. |
| חָֽנְנֵ֬נִי יְהוָ֗ה רְאֵ֣ה עָ֭נְיִי מִשֹּׂנְאָ֑י | 14a | Have mercy on me, YHWH! See my affliction from those who hate me, |
| מְ֝רוֹמְמִ֗י מִשַּׁ֥עֲרֵי מָֽוֶת׃ | 14b | you who lift my head from the gates of death, |
| לְמַ֥עַן אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה כָּֽל־תְּהִלָּ֫תֶ֥יךָ | 15a | so that I may tell about all your praiseworthy actions |
| בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵ֥י בַת־צִיּ֑וֹן | 15b | at the gates of daughter Zion, |
| אָ֝גִ֗ילָה בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃ | 15c | [and so that] I may be glad because of your salvation! |
| טָבְע֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם בְּשַׁ֣חַת עָשׂ֑וּ | 16a | Nations sank in a pit which they had made; |
| בְּרֶֽשֶׁת־ז֥וּ טָ֝מָ֗נוּ נִלְכְּדָ֥ה רַגְלָֽם׃ | 16b | their foot was caught in a net which they had hidden. |
| נ֤וֹדַ֨ע ׀ יְהוָה֮ מִשְׁפָּ֪ט עָ֫שָׂ֥ה | 17a | YHWH, who has accomplished justice, has made himself known, |
| בְּפֹ֣עַל כַּ֭פָּיו נוֹקֵ֣שׁ רָשָׁ֑ע הִגָּי֥וֹן סֶֽלָה׃ | 17b | ensnaring the wicked by the work of his hands. Higgaion Selah |
| יָשׁ֣וּבוּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים לִשְׁא֑וֹלָה | 18a | The wicked will return to Sheol, |
| כָּל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם שְׁכֵחֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃ | 18b | all nations that ignore God. |
| כִּ֤י לֹ֣א לָ֭נֶצַח יִשָּׁכַ֣ח אֶבְי֑וֹן | 19a | For the poor will not be ignored forever; |
| תִּקְוַ֥ת עֲ֝נִיִּ֗ים תֹּאבַ֥ד לָעַֽד׃ | 19b | the hope of the afflicted will [not] perish forever. |
| קוּמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אַל־יָעֹ֣ז אֱנ֑וֹשׁ | 20a | Rise up, YHWH! Let humanity not prevail; |
| יִשָּׁפְט֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם עַל־פָּנֶֽיךָ׃ | 20b | let nations be judged in your presence! |
| שִׁ֘יתָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ מוֹרָ֗ה לָ֫הֶ֥ם | 21a | YHWH, put a fearful thing among them; |
| יֵדְע֥וּ גוֹיִ֑ם אֱנ֖וֹשׁ הֵ֣מָּה סֶּֽלָה׃ | 21b | let the nations know that they are human. Selah |
Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.
This resource is forthcoming.
Participant Tracking Text Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? Our full analysis can be found in the Participant Analysis layer.
This resource is forthcoming.