Psalm 9:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah

NIV: The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.

NASB: The Lord has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. A wicked one is ensnared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion Selah

CSB: The Lord has made himself known; he has executed justice, snaring the wicked by the work of their hands. Higgaion. Selah

NLT: The Lord is known for his justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds. Quiet Interlude

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

NKJV: The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah

David acknowledges that God's involvement in the world is not impossible to see (Romans 1:18–20). Especially in bringing defeat to Israel's enemies, God has shown He is righteous.

Although this statement explicitly refers to what happened to David's enemies, it relates to future judgment as well. At Jesus' return to earth (Revelation 19:11–16), He will vindicate His people and punish the wicked (Jude 1:14–15). The wicked pursed a life of sin, and their sin will repay them with a bitter payoff (Romans 6:23).

Zechariah 14:1–2 foretells a day when the Lord gathers all nations against Jerusalem to battle. Their armies will capture the city, plunder it, and rape its women, but the Lord will "go out and fight against those nations" (Zechariah 14:3). The fate of those who so violently oppose God is clear: "The LORD will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths" (Zechariah 14:12).

This verse includes an obscure term, higgaion, which is not clearly understood. Most scholars believe it's use here implies a musical instruction. The Hebrew word itself can imply whispering (Lamentations 3:62), meditation (Psalm 19:14), or something which "resounds," such as music (Psalm 92:3). The use here, as what seems to be a set-apart term, is unique. This might be an indication of a particular kind of musical interlude. Since the introduction to this psalm may reference a tune to which these words are meant to be sung (Psalm 9:1), this seems likely.

David praises God in a song which follows an acrostic pattern: the psalm is divided into phrases which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The pattern continues through Psalm 10, leading some to suggest they were intended as a single work, or as closely related halves. In this psalm, David promises to praise God for His great deeds, including awesome victory over evil. The Lord's eternal justice is also praised, as David asks for further rescue from those who seek to kill him. The passage ends with a prayer for God to remind mankind of His authority.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.