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Psalms

A collection of songs and prayers expressing a wide range of emotions and thoughts on faith.

Chapter 9

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1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

*I will happily thank you, God, with all my heart; I will show everyone your amazing acts.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

*I am happy and celebrate in you; I will sing praises to your name, oh mighty one.

3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

*When my foes retreat, they'll fail and disappear as you appear.

4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

*Because you have protected my rights and my case, you sit on the throne making fair decisions.

5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

*You have scolded the non-believers, you have eliminated the evil ones, and you have erased their names forever and ever.

6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

*O enemy, destruction has ended forever; you've destroyed cities, and now their memory is gone too.

7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

*But God will last forever; he has ready his seat for judging people.

8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

*He will fairly judge the world and help people make fair decisions.

9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

*The LORD is a safe place for those mistreated, a shelter during difficult times.

10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

*Those who know your name will believe in you, because you, Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

*Sing about how great the LORD is, who lives in a place called Zion; tell everyone about what he does.

12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

*When he searches for those responsible for violence, he remembers them; he doesn't forget the cries of the humble and gentle people.

13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

*Please help me, God; think about how hard things are for me because of those who don't like me. You have saved me from the edge of death.

14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

*So that I can show how great you are at the entrance of the city called Daughter of Zion, I will be very happy because you saved me.

15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

*The non-believers have fallen into the hole they created. In the hidden net, their own foot has been caught.

16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

*God is recognized through the fairness of His actions: bad people are trapped by their own actions. (A moment of reflection.)

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

*The bad people will go to a terrible place called hell, along with all the countries that don't remember God.

18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

*The poor won't be overlooked all the time; their hope will keep lasting forever.

19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

*Wake up, God! Don't let people win; make the non-believers face judgment in your presence.

20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

*Make them afraid, Lord: so people can realize they're just humans. Pause and think about it.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes