THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.

Psalm 9

1David praiseth God for executing judgment on his enemies, and saving the godly: 11he inciteth others to praise him: 13and prayeth that he may have like cause to praise him for his aid in some present distress.


0To the chief 1Musician upon 2Muth-labben, A Psalm of David.

1 See the first annotation at Psalm 4 in the title.

2 Some hold this for the first words of a certain song well-known in those days, according to the tune this psalm was to be sung and played. Others translate it thus: about the dying or death of him that stood between both. Understand thereby Goliath, who stood between the army of Israel and that of the Philistines, reproaching and defying Israel. See 1 Sam. 17:4. This is sure, the Philistines made in David’s time, both before and after Saul’s death many grievous wars against Israel. See 2 Sam. 5:17, etc.; 8:1; 21:15, etc., to which David seems to indicate.

1 I3 WILL praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

3 Other, I will praise thee LORD, etc.

2I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

3When mine enemies are 4turned back, they shall fall and perish 5at thy presence.

4 That is, backwards, when they speak of them who had to flee with shame and disgrace.

5 That is, because of Thy special presence, which Thou hast manifested by Thy assistance to me, whereby the enemies were put to fright and flight, quite scattered and destroyed.

4For thou hast maintained my right and my 6cause; thou satest in the 7throne judging 8right.

6 Understand the lawsuit, which I had against my enemies.

7 Compare Psalm 7 on verse 7, and below verse 7.

8 That is, righteous Judge, or, judging righteousness, that is, righteously.

5Thou hast 9rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

9 As men show forth their anger by rebuking and scolding. As such God’s scolding implies as much as to manifest and to show forth His anger, which is commonly accompanied with the curse and destruction of His enemies. Compare Psalm 18:14, 15; 68:30; 76:6; 80:16; 119:21; Zech. 3:2; Jude verse 9, and the great distress of His own people. See Psalm 80:16. Other, destroyed, consumed, rooted out.

6O thou enemy, destructions 10are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; 11their memorial is perished with them.

10 Namely, as you had designed and imagined to do. This is spoken mockingly in opposition to the enemies’ spiteful boasting. Other, The desolations of the enemy are finished, etc.

11 Yea (will he say) it is fallen out clean contrary, insomuch, that the very remembrance of those enemies, that were destroyed, is altogether perished with them. Other, is their (namely, our cities) remembrance perished with them?

7But the LORD shall 12endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

12 Namely, as Judge, as appears by that which follows.

8Anda he shall judge the 13world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in 14uprightness.

a Psalm 96:13; 98:9.

13 That is, the people who live in the world.

14 Hebr. as if one said: in righteousnesses, or justnesses, straightnesses, that is, very rightfully, reasonably, equitably. So Psalm 17:2; 58:1; Isa. 45:19.

9Theb LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge 15in times of trouble.

b Psalm 37:39; 46:1; 91:2.

15 Hebr. in times, in distress, also Psalm 10:1.

10And they that know thy 16name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that 17seek thee.

16 That is, Thee, according as Thou hast revealed Thyself in Thy Word and works. See Psalm 91:14; Isa. 52:6.

17 That is, at this place, to call upon Thee for help with believing prayers.

11Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in 18Zion: declare among the people his doings.

18 Where are the ark of the covenant and the public worship of God; where He shows His gracious presence in a special manner.

12When he 19maketh inquisitionc20for blood, he 21remembereth them: he forgetteth not the 22cry of the 23humble.

19 To punish. See 2 Chron. 24 on verse 22.

c search, investigation

20 Hebr. bloods, that is, killings and murders. See Gen. 4 on verse 10; 9:5, 6.

21 See Gen. 8 on verse 1.

22 Which every one of them makes, calling upon Him, as follows in verse 13.

23 Other, the afflicted.

13Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the 24gates of death:

24 From deadly deliberations, the multitude and violent behavior of my enemies. Compare Mat. 16:18. The people were wont to have their meetings in those times in the gates, and there the counsels and courts of justice were kept, and in the same consisted the many powers and strength of the cities. See Gen. 22 on verse 17. It may likewise be understood as if David meant to say that God had wonderfully delivered him, when he was so near unto death, as one is to a city, when he is in the gate. Compare Psalm 107:18. David had often been on the threshold of death, as one may say, but God plucked him, as it were by the hand, still out of the midst of his enemies, and exalted him afterwards to great honor.

14That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the 25daughter of Zion: 26I will rejoice in thy salvation.

25 That is, in the congregation of God at Jerusalem, which was situated upon and by the hill of Zion. See 2 Kings 19 on verse 21.

26 Or, I may rejoice.

15Thed heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

dPsalm 7:15.

16The LORD is 27known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. 28Higgaion. Selah.

27 That is, famous, renowned, glorified, because of the acts of His righteousness, whereof in the sequel. Compare Psalm 74 on verse 5.

28 That is, consideration, meditation. The prophet seems to imply that such judgments of God, as he has described here, ought to be considered and pondered with singular attention. Others hold it to be a musical notation, or a solemn sound of music to arouse attention. See Psalm 92:3, and of Selah, Psalm 3 on verse 2.

17The wicked shall be turned 29into hell, and 30all the nations that forget God.

29 That is, unto destruction both of body and soul. Of the Hebrew word Sheol, see Gen. 37 on verse 35.

30 Not heeding His judgments, but recklessly going on in their wicked ways and purposes; whether they be heathen indeed or degenerate Israelites, who are not better than the uncircumcised or from God estranged heathen people.

18For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

1931Arise, O LORD; let not 32man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

31 See Psalm 3 on verse 7.

32 He places the adversity and strength of his enemies ingeniously against one another, as if he said, Lord, Thou shalt never permit, that a wretched man shall be lording and shall behave himself proudly before Thy face, as mine and Thine enemies attempt to do. See the next verse and Psalm 10:18.

2033Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but 34men. Selah.

33 Hebr. put their fear, that is, put them in fear.

34 See Psalm 8 on verse 4. Hebr. a man, that is, that every one of them is but a frail, wretched man.