Psalms 9

A song to thank God for his justice #9:1 David probably wrote Psalms 9 and 10 as one psalm. In the Hebrew language, each verse starts with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In Psalm 10 not all the letters are there.

1All that I am says ‘thank you’ to the Lord. I will tell people about all the great things that you have done.

2I will be very happy because of you. I will sing to praise your name, Most High God.

3Because my enemies have seen your power, they turned back and they fell down. You won against them.

4You showed that I was right. You sat on your throne as a judge who truly decides what is right.

5Clearly you spoke against the nations. You destroyed the wicked people, so that nobody will remember them ever again.

6Down came the cities of our enemies! You destroyed them for ever. People will just forget them.

7Every day the Lord will rule as king. He sits on his throne as judge.

8He is fair when he judges all the people in the world. He brings justice to all the nations.

9For people who suffer, the Lord gives them a safe place. When trouble comes to them, he keeps them safe.

10Everyone who knows you, Lord, trusts in you. You will never turn away from anyone who comes to you for help.

11Give a song to the Lord to praise him! He rules as king in Zion. Tell all the nations about the great things that he has done.

12God punishes murderers, and he takes care of people who receive pain from others. When they call to him, he does not refuse to help them.

13How my enemies cause me to suffer! Please be kind to me, Lord. You are the one who can save me from death.

14Then I will praise you for everyone to hear! I will tell the people of Zion that you have saved me, and I will be very happy!

15Into the deep hole that they dug, the nations themselves fell. The net that they hid to catch me, caught their own feet!

16The Lord has shown us who he is. We know that he brings justice. Wicked people will catch themselves in their own traps. Higgaion. Selah.

17Justice sends the wicked people away, into the deep hole of death. This will happen to all the nations that do not respect God.

18Know this: God will not forget the poor for ever. People who suffer should continue to hope.

19Lord, stand up! Do not let people turn against you! Bring the nations to stand in front of you. Judge them!

20Lord, make them afraid! Make the nations know that they are only weak and human. Selah.