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15 The nations fell[a] into the pit they had made;
their feet were caught in the net they had hidden.[b]
16 The Lord revealed himself;
he accomplished justice.
The wicked were ensnared by their own actions.[c] (Higgaion.[d] Selah)
17 The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol;[e]
this is the destiny of[f] all the nations that ignore[g] God,

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 9:15 tn Heb “sank down.”
  2. Psalm 9:15 sn The hostility of the nations against God’s people is their downfall, for it prompts God to intervene and destroy them. See also Ps 7:15-16.
  3. Psalm 9:16 tn Heb “by the work of his hands [the] wicked [one] was ensnared.” The singular form רָשָׁע (rashaʿ, “wicked”) is collective or representative here (see vv. 15, 17). The form נוֹקֵשׁ (noqesh) appears to be an otherwise unattested Qal form (active participle) from נָקַשׁ (naqash), but the form should be emended to נוֹקַשׁ (noqash), a Niphal perfect from יָקַשׁ (yaqash).
  4. Psalm 9:16 tn This is probably a technical musical term.
  5. Psalm 9:17 tn Heb “the wicked turn back to Sheol.” The imperfect verbal form either emphasizes what typically happens or describes vividly the aftermath of the Lord’s victory over the psalmist’s enemies. See v. 3.
  6. Psalm 9:17 tn The words “this is the destiny of” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. The verb “are turned back” is understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).
  7. Psalm 9:17 tn Heb “forget.” “Forgetting God” refers here to worshiping false gods and thereby refusing to recognize his sovereignty (see also Deut 8:19; Judg 3:7; 1 Sam 12:9; Isa 17:10; Jer 3:21; Ps 44:20). The nations’ refusal to acknowledge God’s sovereignty accounts for their brazen attempt to attack and destroy his people.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;(A)
    their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.(B)
16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
    the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.[a](C)
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,(D)
    all the nations that forget God.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 9:16 The Hebrew has Higgaion and Selah (words of uncertain meaning) here; Selah occurs also at the end of verse 20.