Psalm 9

1For the end, a Psalm of David, concerning the secrets of the Son.

2I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will recount all thy wonderful works. 3I will be glad and exult in thee: I will sing to thy name, O thou Most High.

4When mine enemies are turned back, they shall be feeble and perish at thy presence. 5For thou hast maintained my cause and my right; thou satest on the throne, that judgest righteousness. 6Thou hast rebuked the nations, and the ungodly one has perished; thou hast blotted out their name for ever, even for ever and ever. 7The swords of the enemy have failed utterly; and thou hast destroyed cities: their memorial has been destroyed with a noise, 8but the Lord endures for ever: he has prepared his throne for judgment. 9And he will judge the world in righteousness, he will judge the nations in uprightness. 10The Lord also is become a refuge for the poor, a seasonable help, in affliction. 11And let them that know thy name hope in thee: for thou, O Lord, hast not failed them that diligently seek thee.

12Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Sion: declare his dealings among the nations. 13For he remembered them, in making inquisition for blood: he has not forgotten the supplication of the poor.

14Have mercy upon me, O Lord; look upon my affliction which I suffer of mine enemies, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: 15that I may declare all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion: I will exult in thy salvation.

16The heathen are caught in the destruction which they planned: in the very snare which they hid is their foot taken. 17The Lord is known as executing judgments: the sinner is taken in the works of his hands. A song of Pause. 18Let sinners be driven away into Hades, even all the nations that forget God. 19For the poor shall not be forgotten for ever: the patience of the needy ones shall not perish for ever. 20Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged before thee. 21Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them: let the heathen know that they are men. Pause. 221

Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why dost thou overlook us in times of need, in affliction? 23While the ungodly one acts proudly, the poor is 2hotly pursued: the wicked are taken in the crafty counsels which they imagine. 24Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself. 25The sinner has provoked the Lord: according to the abundance of his 3pride he will not seek after him: God is not before him. 26His ways are 4profane at all times; thy judgments are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies. 27For he has said in his heart, I shall not be moved, continuing without evil from generation to generation. 5 28Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness, and fraud: under his tongue are trouble and pain. 29He lies in wait with rich men in secret places, in order to slay the innocent: his eyes are 6set against the poor. 30He lies in wait in secret as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to ravish the poor, to ravish the poor when he draws him after him: he will bring him down in his snare. 31He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor. 32For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.

33Arise, O Lord God; let thy hand be lifted up: forget not the poor. 34Wherefore has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He will not require it. 35Thou seest it; for thou dost observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into thy hands: the poor has been left to thee; thou wast a helper to the orphan. 36Break thou the arm of the sinner and wicked man: his sin shall be sought for, and shall not be found.

37The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish out of his land. 38The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: thine ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart; 39to plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.