Psalm 9:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

NIV: For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

NASB: For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the needy.

CSB: For the one who seeks an accounting for bloodshed remembers them; he does not forget the cry of the oppressed.

NLT: For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.

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

NKJV: When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble.

Revenge is not something those who believe in God should pursue: The Lord "settles the score" on behalf of His oppressed people (Romans 12:19). His is aware of their struggles (Psalm 9:9–10). The ultimate source of retribution for evil is not human revenge, it is God's judgment (Deuteronomy 32:35; Hebrews 10:30).

Evidence that God does not forget the suffering of His people is given in the story of the exodus from Egypt. When the Lord appointed Moses to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt, He said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians" (Exodus 3:7–8). Instead of fretting about an oppressive situation, believers should heed Paul's exhortation to make their requests known to God with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, and receive the "peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7– 8).

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.

Accessed 5/6/2024 7:43:15 AM