King David thanks HaShem in Psalm 9 for the everyday miracles of which only the heart is aware. We often forget the everyday miracles. We only see miracles when our hearts find their light in dark times. The Piaseczner Rebbe warns us to use such moments appropriately. If we do not build on these experiences we will find our hearts closed to our essence and we will not grow spiritually.
- Text Psalm 9
- Hebrew text of Psalm 9 – תהילים ט
- Listen to Psalm 9
- Explanation of Psalm 9 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
- Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 9
- Further explanation of the above Jewish comments
- Psalm 1 to 92
Text Psalm 9
A Psalm of David. I want to praise You, O Lord, with all my heart, and tell of Your wonderful deeds. I want to be cheerful, to cheer You, to sing Your name. Most High, now that my enemies shrink back, fall and perish under Your gaze. For You have defended my rights, You have placed Your name on Your seat, O righteous judge. You have threatened the nations, you have destroyed the wicked, you have blotted out their names forever. The enemies are defeated, forgotten. You swept away their cities: ruins forever.
……….The nations disappear into the pit they dug, their feet are entangled in the net they secretly spread. The Eternal makes himself known and executes justice; by his hand the wicked falls. higajon, selah. Let the wicked go into Hades, all the nations that have forgotten God. But God does not forget the poor, not all hope is lost for the weak. Arise, O Lord, do not leave power to men. May the nations be judged in Your presence. Frighten them, O Lord, let them know that they are human. selah
Hebrew text of Psalm 9 – תהילים ט
A for victory over white death, a psalm for David. B Ode Jehovah with all my heart I have recounted all your wonders. 3 I will be glad and exult in you, I will praise your most high name. D. When my enemies return, they will fail and be lost before you. Because you have executed my judgment and my judgment, you have sat on the throne of a righteous judge. And the destruction of the Gentiles, the destruction of the wicked, their destruction, live forever and ever. 7 The enemy’s swords are dead forever, and cities are ruined and lost. They remember the death. 8 And he will forever sit in judgment on his throne. 9 And he will judge the nations with justice and justice. Yahweh is exalted to you, exalted in times of trouble. And those who know your name will trust in you, because you have not forsaken your commands, Jehovah. 12 Sing to the Lord who dwells in Zion, tell the peoples his stories. 13 Because he demanded blood, he remembered not forgetting the cry of the poor. Yahweh’s merciful hand has seen the poor, saved from the gates of death. That is why I recounted all your praises in the gates of Beth-Zion and Ogila in your salvation. 16 The Gentiles drowned in prey, they made a net – this was buried, a foot was caught. 17 Yahweh knows the judgment he has made by doing what he has done. 18 The wicked will return to the question of all the nations who forget God. 19 For the pity of the humble (poor) shall not be forgotten forever, and shall perish forever. As Yahweh raised up, let no man dare, let the nations be judged before you. So Yahweh taught them that the Gentiles should know what is wrong.
Listen to Psalm 9
Listen to Psalm 9 in Hebrew.
Explanation of Psalm 9 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
your problems will be answered by HaShem (G-d)
Each of us sometimes experiences problems in the field of finances, health or something else. Your heart is filled with fear. And suddenly your prayers are answered by HaShem. You feel completely relieved. David wants to
thank
HaShem with all his heart. In Psalm 9 David says I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart, I will declare all Your wonders; . David thanks HaShem for the everyday miracles of which only the heart is aware. We often forget the everyday miracles. We only see miracles when our hearts find their light in dark times. The Piaseczner Rebbe warns us to use such moments appropriately. If we do not build on these experiences we will find our hearts closed to our essence and we will not grow spiritually.
spiritual growth King David appreciates this truth and in the next sentence he says: In You I will rejoice and be glad, and sing praises to Your name, O Most High . Psalm singing in Hebrew is ‘azamra’ which is connected to the word ‘tzemer’ which means growth. These moments should lead to spiritual growth. When HaShem shows us His grace we must use these insights for our continued growth.
Jacob’s ladder Jacob dreams of a ladder where angels ascend and descend. This can serve as a lesson. The creation of heavenly beings begins by our will to do something on earth. Degel Machaneh Efraim says that a Jew can never remain at the same level. One must either go up or down. Descending can also mean ascending, provided the person realizes that he is praying to HaShem so that he ascends to a great height.
HaShem appeared on Mount Sinai as an old man – with a great spirit. The Jewish sages say that HaShem appeared on Mount Sinai as an old man, while at the time of the exodus He appeared as a young man. This alludes to two forms of service to the Creator. First of all, a person serves HaShem simply because He is a great Governor. The person serves the Creator with great intellect. In addition, a person serves the Creator because the Creator grants him much kindness and goodness. This person serves the Creator with a small mind. The latter happened when the Jewish people left Egypt. HaShem was served with a small spirit. The first situation happened on Mount Sinai when the Jewish people served HaShem with great spirit. The Jewish people had grown spiritually.
HaShem gives us the opportunity to grow spiritually Because HaShem’s love is so great for us, He gives us golden opportunities. And with every little bit of growth, He fills us with spiritual warmth that we sing for joy.
HaShem never forsakes anyone who truly trusts in Him Psalm 9 continues: Therefore those who know Your name trust You, for You have never forsaken those who seek You, O Lord . Total trust is the trust of someone who sees HaShem’s goodness in everything, in every action. Those who truly trust HaSHem will never be forsaken by Him.
Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 9
Per verse the commentary of Rashi, the Jewish Bible commentator who lived from 1040-1105. Rashi is considered the teacher of teachers. All traditional Jews regard Rashi as an authority on the Jewish Bible and Talmud. Hence it is important to record his commentary on the Psalms. Rashi uses new Hebrew supplemented with Old French words. His language is sometimes somewhat oracularly short. For further explanation it is wise to consult an orthodox Jewish rabbi.
Verse 1
To the conductor, to brighten up the youth, a song from David.
to brighten up youth : Hebrew על מות לבן. Some interpret לבן על מות, at the death of Absalom, but this interpretation is not plausible because he [David] declares: לבן; he does not declare הבן. Others interpret על מות לבן [as referring to] Nabal. This is also not plausible to reverse the name. Moreover, no mention is made of him in the psalm. (The previous paragraph does not appear in most editions.) I saw in the Great Masorah that it is one word, judging by the fact that it is compared to (under 48:15): ,He will guide us as in the youth (על מות). Menachem and Dunash have interpreted what they have interpreted, but it does not seem correct to me. I saw in the Pesikta (d’Rav Kahana, p. 25a) that the chapter deals with Amalek and Esau (as in verse 6): You rebuked nations; You have destroyed an evil man. But I say that this song, למנצח על מות לבן, is for the future, when the youth of Israel will be brightened; their righteousness will be revealed, and their salvation will draw near come, that Esau and his seed will be erased, according to our Torah. (The last sentence does not appear in most editions.) על מות means childhood. לבן is like ללבן, to whiten. Menachem interpreted מות לבן על, melodies for teaching , and this is its interpretation: for the conductor למנצח, for the conductor, melodies to teach, in which case לבן is equal to להבין ולבונן, to understand and apprehend; על מות, named after a musical instrument called עלמות, as mentioned (under 46: ): ,on alamoth-shir., Dunash (p. 15f) interpreted לבן as the name of a man whose name was Labben, who fought with David in those days, and the psalmist’s statement: ,You rebuked nations, you destroyed an evil man,, this evil man is Labben, who killed innocent people. Although nowhere else than this place will you find a man named Labben, you will find the same thing with other names, found only once in the Bible. (This entire account of Dunash’s interpretation does not appear in the early MSS. Menachem’s interpretation is presented very briefly.)
Verse 2
I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will tell all Your wonders.
all Your miracles : the final redemption, which is equal to all miracles, as it is said (in Jeremiah 23:7): ,when they shall no longer say, As the Lord liveth, who hath brought up, etc.,
Verse 5
For You have executed my judgment and my cause; You sat on the throne, O Judge of righteousness.
my judgment and my cause : Hebrew משפטי ודיני, words doubled in the Bible, for there is no difference between them, as (in Job 16:19): ,My Witness is in heaven, and He who testifies for me is high ,; (ibid. 40:18): “His limbs are as strong as brass, his bones like a load of iron.”
my judgment and my cause : in heaven (?).
You sat on the throne : The throne of judgment.
Verse 6
You rebuked nations, You destroyed an evil man; You have erased their name forever and ever.
You rebuked nations : [This refers to Amalek, described in Num. 24:20 as] “Amalek is the first of the nations.”
You destroyed a bad man : Esau.
You have blotted out their name : For I will surely blot out the memory of Amalek” (Exodus 17:14).
Verse 7
The enemy has been destroyed; swords endure forever, and You have uprooted the cities – their memory is lost.
The enemy is destroyed : for the swords of hatred are upon him continually as a sharp sword. Another explanation: חרבות לנצח that enemy, the swords whose hatred was upon us forever. That is the one of whom it is said (in Amos 1:11), “and their wrath was kept forever.” Another explanation: חרבות is an expression of destruction, and this is its interpretation: the enemy is destroyed; its ruins are everlasting. And so it is said (in Ezekiel 35:9), “I will make you everlasting desolations, and your cities shall not be restored.”
and You have uprooted the cities : ,Shall Edom say, ‘We are poor, but we will return and build the ruins?’, Thus said the Lord of hosts: They will build, but I will demolish (Malachi 1:4)
. memory is lost : at that time.
Verse 8
But the Lord will sit forever; He has established His throne for judgment.
But the Lord will sit forever : The Name will be complete, and the throne will be complete, as it is written כסאו , but before it is erased, it is written (in Exodus 17:16): For one hand is upon the throne (כס) of the Eternal (י-ה).The throne is wanting [that is, it is misspelled] and the name is divided [that is, the last two letters of the Tetragrammaton are missing].
Verse 9
But He judges the world with righteousness, kingdoms with equity.
But He judges the world with righteousness, kingdoms with equity : Until the beginning of the end He was in the habit of judging them with grace according to the equity found in them. He judged them at night, when they would sleep and commit no sins.
Verse 10
And the Lord will be a fortress for the oppressed, a fortress for times of trouble.
And the Lord will be a fortress for the crushed : Hebrew לדך, an expression of crushed, amenuyze in Old French. In the future, when He establishes His throne for judgment, He will be a stronghold for Israel, who have been crushed.
for times of trouble : for times of need.
Verse 12
Sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion; relate His deeds among the nations.
Sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion : When He restores His habitation to Zion, they will praise Him in this way.
Verse 13
For He who avenges blood remembers them; He has not forgotten the cry of the lowly.
remembers them : The blood that was shed in Israel.
Verse 14
Be merciful to me, O Lord, behold my affliction from mine enemies, You who raise me from the gates of death,
Be merciful to me, O Lord : now in exile.
You who raise me up : with Your salvation.
Verse 16
Nations have sunk into the pit they have made; in this net which they hid, their foot is caught.
Nations are sunk : This is the praise I will tell.
Verse 17
The Lord is known for the judgment He executed; by the hand of His hand the wicked man stumbles. Let us meditate on this forever.
The Lord is known : All this is part of the praise: the Lord is known to the creatures; [it is known] that He rules and governs and inflicts vengeance on His enemies, for He does justice to them, ‘justice’ in French.
the wicked man stumbles : Hebrew נוקש, the wicked man stumbles.
Let us meditate on this forever : הגיון סלה, literally, a constant meditation. Let us meditate on this forever.
Verse 18
May the wicked return to the grave, all nations that forget G-d.
to the grave : Rabbi Nehemiah said: Every word that requires a ,lammed, at the beginning, Scripture places a ,hey, at the end, e.g. מצרימה, to Egypt (Gen. 12:10); מדברה, into the wilderness (I Kings 19:15). They asked him, Is it not written, May the wicked return to the grave (לשאולה)? Rabbi Abba bar Zavda answers: To the lowest level of Sheol. What does it mean that they will return? After they come out of Gehinnom and stand in judgment and are found guilty, they return to the lowest level of Gehinnom.
Verse 19
For the needy will not be forgotten forever, nor will the hope of the poor be lost forever.
For the needy will not be forgotten forever : [i.e.] Israel, the needy, [will not be forgotten] to visit them while they [the wicked nations] enslaved them, nor will the hope of the poor even to the be forgotten for eternity.
Verse 20
Arise, O Lord; let man have no power. May the nations be judged because of Your wrath.
Arise, O Lord : David prayed for the Holy One, blessed be He, that He might arise and hasten to do this.
let … have no power : [i.e. let] the wicked man [not] enjoy long life in his greatness.
because of Your wrath : Because of the wrath with which they angered You in Your sanctuary.
Verse 21
O Lord, place their mastery; let the nations know that they are mortal men forever.
mastery : Hebrew מורה, mastery and a yoke (Mid. Ps. 9:16). Another explanation: מורה is an expression of hurling, as (in Exodus 15:4): “He cast (ירה) into the sea.” Others say that מורה is an expression meaning a razor.
let the nations know : that they are human and not gods, that their power would rule.
Further explanation of the above Jewish comments
When we make a good analysis of our lives, we see that G-d is constantly involved. Even during times when things are going badly in our lives, G-d does not abandon us. Sometimes we complain that G-d does not see our suffering, but He does. He wants us to ask Him for help. Then He will also be there to pull us out of misery. This is how we can grow towards G-d. And when things are going well for us again, we must continue to seek G-d. Even then we need Him to continue to grow towards Him. We will then realize that all of life is a miracle; that we can exist, breathe, eat, be cheerful, etc. We must thank G-d for this every day.
Psalm 1 to 92
Would you like to read more Psalms with a Jewish interpretation? Go to: Psalms 1 through 92.