Psalms 9
1 “To the chief musician upon Muthlabben, a psalm of David.” I will thank the Lord with all my heart: I will relate all thy marvelous deeds.
For the music director. According to Muth-labben. A psalm of David. I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the amazing things you have done.
2 I will rejoice and exult in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High:
I will be glad and celebrate in you; I will sing praises to your wonderful nature, Most High God.
3 When my enemies are turned backward, [when] they fall and perish at thy presence.
Those who hate me retreat; they fall back and die when you confront them.
4 For thou hast conducted my dispute and my cause; thou hast sat on the throne as a righteous judge.
For you have judged that I am right; you have decided fairly from your throne of judgment.
5 Thou hast rebuked nations, thou hast caused the wicked to perish, their name hast thou blotted out for ever and ever.
You have condemned the nations; you have destroyed the wicked; you have wiped out their names forever and ever.
6 O thou enemy, the ruins are passed away for ever, and the cities which thou hast destroyed, —lost is their memorial, yea, theirs.
The enemies are finished, ruined forever; their cities are destroyed—even the memory of them is gone.
7 But the Lord will sit enthroned for ever: he hath established for giving judgment his throne.
But the Lord rules forever, his throne is set up for judgment.
8 And he will judge the world with righteousness, he shall decide for the people, with equity.
The Lord judges the world rightly; he judges the nations fairly.
9 The Lord also will be a strong-hold for the oppressed, a strong-hold in times of distress.
The Lord is a place of safety for those who are oppressed, a fortress in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; for thou hast not forsaken those that seek thee, O Lord.
Those who know your nature trust in you, for you don't abandon those who come to you.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, who dwelleth in Zion: announce among the people his deeds.
Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Zion! Tell the nations what he has done!
12 For he, that inquireth after acts of blood, hath remembered them: he hath not forgotten the cry of the afflicted.
He does not forget to punish murderers; he does not ignore the cries of the suffering.
13 Be gracious unto me, O Lord; have regard to my affliction [coming] from those that hate me, thou who liftest me up from the gates of death:
Be gracious to me, Lord! Look at how my enemies are persecuting me! Grab me back from the gates of death,
14 In order that I may relate all thy praises in the gates of the daughters of Zion: I will be glad in thy salvation.
so I can praise you at Zion's gates, happy that you have saved me.
15 Sunk are nations in the ditch that they have prepared: in this net which they had laid in secret is their own foot caught.
The nations have fallen into their own pit they dug; their feet are trapped by their own net they set.
16 The Lord is made known: he executed justice: through the doing of his own hands is the wicked ensnared. Higgayon, (Selah)
The Lord is known for his fairness; the wicked are trapped by their own actions. (Higgaion, Selah)
The wicked depart, going to the grave—all nations who turn their backs on God. (Sheol h7585)
18 For not everlastingly shall the needy be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
But the needy will not be ignored forever, the hope of those who suffer will not always be dashed.
19 Arise, O Lord; let not the mortal boast of his strength; let nations be judged before thy face.
Stand up, Lord! Don't let human beings win! Let the nations be brought before you for judgment!
20 Place, O Lord, fear over them: let nations know, that they are but mortals. (Selah)
Lord, terrify them! Let them know they are only human! (Selah)
