Mazmur 9:3

9:3 When my enemies turn back,

they trip and are defeated ¹  before you.

Mazmur 9:7

9:7 But the Lord ²  rules ³  forever;

he reigns in a just manner. ⁴ 

Mazmur 98:9

98:9 before the Lord!

For he comes to judge the earth!

He judges the world fairly, ⁵ 

and the nations in a just manner.

[9:3]  ¹ tn Or “perish”; or “die.” The imperfect verbal forms in this line either emphasize what typically happens or describe vividly the aftermath of a recent battle in which the Lord defeated the psalmist’s enemies.

[9:7]  ² tn The construction vav (ו) + subject highlights the contrast between the exalted Lord and his defeated foes (see v. 6).

[9:7]  ³ tn Heb “sits” (i.e., enthroned, see v. 4). The imperfect verbal form highlights the generalization.

[9:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “he establishes for justice his throne.”

[98:9]  ⁵ tn The verbal forms in v. 9 probably describe God’s typical, characteristic behavior, though they may depict in dramatic fashion the outworking of divine judgment or anticipate a future judgment of worldwide proportions (“will judge…”).