Psalm 9
Easy-to-Read Version
[a] To the director: Use the Alamoth of Ben.[b] A song of David.
9 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart.
I will tell about the wonderful things you have done.
2 You make me happy, so I will rejoice in you.
God Most High, I praise your name.
3 My enemies turned to run from you,
but they fell and were destroyed.
4 You listened to me from your throne like a good judge,
and you decided that I was right.
5 You told the nations how wrong they were.
You destroyed those evil people.
You erased their names from our memory forever and ever.
6 The enemy is finished!
You destroyed their cities.
There is nothing left to remind us of them.
7 The Lord set up his throne to bring justice,
and he will rule forever.
8 He judges everyone on earth fairly.
He judges all nations honestly.
9 Many people are suffering—
crushed by the weight of their troubles.
But the Lord is a refuge for them,
a safe place they can run to.
10 Lord, those who know your name
come to you for protection.
And when they come,
you do not leave them without help.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits as King in Zion.[c]
Tell the nations about the great things he has done.
12 He punishes murderers
and remembers those who are in need.
When suffering people cry for help,
he does not ignore them.
13 I said this prayer: “Lord, be kind to me.
See how my enemies are hurting me.
Save me from the ‘gates of death.’
14 Then, at the gates of Jerusalem,[d] I can sing praises to you.
I will be so happy because you saved me.”
15 Those other nations have fallen into the pit they dug to catch others.
They have been caught in their own trap.
16 The Lord showed that he judges fairly.
The wicked were caught by what they did to hurt others. Higgayon[e] Selah
17 The wicked will go to the place of death,
as will all the nations that forget God.
18 It may seem that those who are poor and needy have been forgotten,
but God will not forget them.
He will not leave them without hope.
19 Lord, get up[f] and judge the nations.
Don’t let anyone think they can win against you.
20 Teach them a lesson, Lord.
Let them know they are only human. Selah
Footnotes
- Psalm 9:1 Psalm 9 In many Hebrew copies and in the ancient Greek version, Psalms 9 and 10 are combined as one psalm.
- Psalm 9:1 Psalm 9 Alamoth of Ben This might be the name of a tune, “On the Death of the Son,” a music style, or one of the orchestral groups in the Temple. See 1 Chron. 15:20.
- Psalm 9:11 Sing … Zion Or “Inhabitants of Zion, sing praises to the Lord.” See “Zion” in the Word List.
- Psalm 9:14 Jerusalem Literally, “daughter Zion.” See “Zion” in the Word List.
- Psalm 9:16 Higgayon Or “Meditation.” Together with Selah this may mean a time to pause and think quietly.
- Psalm 9:19 Lord, get up The people said this when they lifted the Box of the Agreement and took it into battle, showing that God was with them. See Num. 10:35-36. Also in Ps. 10:12.
Psalm 9
Jubilee Bible 2000
To the Overcomer upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.
1 ¶ I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all thy marvellous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High
3 because my enemies are turned back; they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4 For thou hast accomplished my judgment and my cause; thou didst sit in the throne judging according to righteousness.
5 Thou hast reprehended the Gentiles, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and the cities that thou hast destroyed; their memorial is perished with them.
7 But the LORD shall endure for ever; he has prepared his throne for judgment.
8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall judge the peoples in uprightness.
9 The LORD also will be a refuge to the humble, a refuge for the time of trouble.
10 And those that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those that seek thee.
11 ¶ Sing unto the LORD, he who dwells in Zion; declare among the people his doings.
12 When he makes requirement for blood, he remembers them; he does not forget the cry of the humble.
13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer from those 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 saving health.
15 The Gentiles are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid their own foot is taken.
16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he has executed; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion (meditate on this for ever). Selah.
17 The wicked shall be put into Sheol, all the Gentiles that forget God.
18 For the humble shall not always be forgotten: the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.
19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the Gentiles be judged in thy sight.
20 Put fear into them, O LORD: that the Gentiles may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
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