Psalm 9:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

NIV: But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

NASB: For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.

CSB: For the needy will not always be forgotten; the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever.

NLT: But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

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

NKJV: For the needy shall not always be forgotten; The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.

Contrary to the horrific fate of the wicked (Psalm 9:17), those who are needy won't be abandoned by God or left in a state of eternal death. This verse forms a deliberate contrast to verse 17. Verse 17 refers to the nations that forget God, but this statement speaks of the needy who will not be forgotten. Both aspects of the contrast matter here: those whom God "remembers" are those who follow and honor Him. The wealthy unbelievers will still be held accountable, while even the poor who believe will be redeemed.

It is possible for the needy to feel forgotten when material struggles arise. But ultimately, God provides for His people, even when they struggle. He will come to their assistance, always, in spiritual ways, and often in material ways, as well. Furthermore, the poor who believe in Christ hope for a better life, and someday they will have it (Romans 8:28–30). The fulfillment of these aspirations awaits the establishment of Messiah's kingdom on earth. Jesus promised, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20). In the kingdom age everyone will enjoy security and property rights. No one will be poor or needy. Micah 4:4 promises, "They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken."

Psalm 9:9–20 turns David's attention to various groups of people of Israel. He mentions the oppressed, those who trust in the Lord, the afflicted, the needy, and the poor. He sees the Lord as a safe, secure place, a God who is mindful of His people, and the supplier of hope to the poor.

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.

This is a thanksgiving song, where David shows appreciation for the Lord's rescue. This shares similar themes to Psalm 10, though from a very different tone. Some scholars think Psalms 9 and 10 were originally a single work. This is part of the first section of the book of Psalms, including Psalms 1 through 41.

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.