Psalm 9 is a hymn of thanksgiving and praise attributed to David, celebrating God’s righteousness, justice, and deliverance. It acknowledges God’s sovereignty over nations and His care for the oppressed. Welcome to the Psalm Club!

Text of Psalm 9

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 forever 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.

Commentary

Verses 1-2: Thanksgiving and Praise

David begins with heartfelt thanks and praise to God, promising to declare His wonderful deeds and rejoice in His name. This sets the tone for a celebration of God’s faithfulness and deliverance.

Verses 3-6: Victory over Enemies

David recounts how God has intervened on his behalf against enemies, causing them to stumble and perish. He praises God as the righteous judge who upholds justice by rebuking nations and destroying the wicked.

Verses 7-9: God’s Sovereignty and Protection

David acknowledges God’s eternal reign and throne of judgment, ruling with righteousness and equity. He praises God as a refuge for the oppressed and a stronghold in times of trouble, affirming that those who seek Him find refuge and security.

Verses 10-14: Trust and Deliverance

David asserts that those who trust in God find refuge and that God never forsakes those who seek Him. He declares his intention to proclaim God’s praises and rejoice in His salvation, even amidst persecution.

Verses 15-20: Justice and Judgment

David observes the fate of the wicked, who fall into their own traps and face God’s justice. He affirms that God remembers the cries of the afflicted and will judge the nations, ensuring that justice prevails and acknowledging God’s sovereignty over all.

Conclusion

Psalm 9 is a powerful declaration of thanksgiving, praise, and trust in God’s justice and deliverance. David’s hymn celebrates God’s righteous judgment, His protection of the oppressed, and His eternal reign. It serves as a timeless testament to God’s faithfulness and sovereignty over all nations and peoples.