Mazmur 9:1

Psalm 9 ¹ 

For the music director; according to the alumoth-labben style; ²  a psalm of David.

9:1 I will thank the Lord with all my heart!

I will tell about all your amazing deeds! ³ 

Mazmur 9:4

9:4 For you defended my just cause; ⁴ 

from your throne you pronounced a just decision. ⁵ 

[9:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 9. The psalmist, probably speaking on behalf of Israel or Judah, praises God for delivering him from hostile nations. He celebrates God’s sovereignty and justice, and calls on others to join him in boasting of God’s greatness. Many Hebrew mss and the ancient Greek version (LXX) combine Psalms 9 and 10 into a single psalm.

[9:1]  ² tc The meaning of the Hebrew term עַלְמוּת (’almut) is uncertain. Some mss divide the form into עַל מוּת (’al mut, “according to the death [of the son]”), while the LXX assumes a reading עֲלֻמוֹת עַל (’al ’alumot, “according to alumoth”). The phrase probably refers to a particular tune or musical style.

[9:1]  ³ tn The cohortative forms in vv. 1-2 express the psalmist’s resolve to praise God publicly.

[9:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “for you accomplished my justice and my legal claim.”

[9:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “you sat on a throne [as] one who judges [with] righteousness.” The perfect verbal forms in v. 4 probably allude to a recent victory (see vv. 5-7). Another option is to understand the verbs as describing what is typical (“you defend…you sit on a throne”).