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11 Sing praises to the Lord, who rules[a] in Zion.
Tell the nations what he has done.[b]
12 For the one who takes revenge against murderers took notice of the oppressed;[c]
he did not overlook[d] their cry for help[e]
13 when they prayed:[f]
“Have mercy on me,[g] Lord!
See how I am oppressed by those who hate me,[h]
O one who can snatch me away[i] from the gates of death!

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 9:11 tn Heb “sits” (i.e., enthroned, and therefore ruling—see v. 4). Another option is to translate as “lives” or “dwells.”
  2. Psalm 9:11 tn Heb “declare among the nations his deeds.”
  3. Psalm 9:12 tn Heb “for the one who seeks shed blood remembered them.” The idiomatic expression “to seek shed blood” seems to carry the idea “to seek payment/restitution for one’s shed blood.” The plural form דָּמִים (damim, “shed blood”) occurs only here as the object of דָּרַשׁ (darash, “to seek”); the singular form דָּם (dam, “blood”) appears with the verb in Gen 9:5; 42:22; Ezek 33:6. “Them,” the pronominal object of the verb “remembered,” refers to the oppressed, mentioned specifically in the next line, so the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  4. Psalm 9:12 tn Heb “did not forget.”
  5. Psalm 9:12 tn Heb “the cry for help of the oppressed.” In this context the “oppressed” are the psalmist and those he represents, whom the hostile nations have threatened.
  6. Psalm 9:13 tn The words “when they prayed,” though not represented in the Hebrew text, are supplied in the translation for clarification. The petition in vv. 13-14 is best understood as the cry for help which the oppressed offered to God when the nations threatened. The Lord answered this request, prompting the present song of thanksgiving.
  7. Psalm 9:13 tn Or “show me favor.”
  8. Psalm 9:13 tn Heb “see my misery from the ones who hate me.”
  9. Psalm 9:13 tn Heb “one who lifts me up.”

11 Sing the praises(A) of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;(B)
    proclaim among the nations(C) what he has done.(D)
12 For he who avenges blood(E) remembers;
    he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.(F)

13 Lord, see how my enemies(G) persecute me!
    Have mercy(H) and lift me up from the gates of death,(I)

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