The Eastern Cross/Bible/Psalms/Psalm 9
The Book of Psalms · the Psalter
Psalm 9 and 10 in the KJV and most English Bibles
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For the end, a Psalm of David, concerning the secrets of the Son.
Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ τῶν κρυφίων τοῦ υἱοῦ, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ.
"Why, O Lord," says he, "have You withdrawn afar off?" Then he who thus inquired, as if all on a sudden he understood, or as if he asked, though he knew, that he might teach, adds, "You despise in due seasons, in tribulations:" that is, You despise seasonably, and causest tribulations to inflame men's minds with…
Then he who thus inquired, as if all on a sudden he understood, or as if he asked, though he knew, that he might teach, adds, "You despise in due seasons, in tribulations:" that is, You despise seasonably, and causest tribulations to inflame men's minds with longing for Your coming. For that fountain of life is…
I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will recount all thy wonderful works.
Ἐξομολογήσομαι σοι Κύριε ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ μου, διηγήσομαι πάντα τὰ θαυμάσιά σου.
"They are taken in their thoughts, which they think:" that is, their evil thoughts become chains to them. But how become they chains? "For the sinner is praised," saith he, "in the desires of his soul." The tongues of flatterers bind souls in sin. For there is pleasure in doing those things, in which not only is no…
"I will confess unto You, O Lord, with my whole heart". He does not, with a whole heart, confess unto God, who doubts of His Providence in any particular: but he who sees already the hidden things of the wisdom of God, how great is His invisible reward, who says, "We rejoice in tribulations;" [Romans 5:3] and how all…
I will be glad and exult in thee: I will sing to thy name, O thou Most High.
Εὐφρανθήσομαι καὶ ἀγαλλιάσομαι ἐν σοὶ, ψαλῶ τῷ ὀνόματί σου ὕψιστε.
"The sinner has angered the Lord". Let no one congratulate the man that prospers in his way, to whose sins no avenger is near, and an approver is by. This is the greater anger of the Lord. For the sinner has angered the Lord, that he should suffer these things, that is, should not suffer the scourging of correction.…
"I will be glad and exult in Thee" (ver. 2). Not any more in this world, not in pleasure of bodily dalliance, not in relish of palate and tongue, not in sweetness of perfumes, not in joyousness of passing sounds, not in the variously coloured forms of figure, not in vanities of men's praise, not in wedlock and…
When mine enemies are turned back, They shall be feeble and perish at thy presence.
Ἐν τῷ ἀποστραφῆναι τὸν ἐχθρόν μου εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, ἀσθενήσουσι καὶ ἀπολοῦνται ἀπὸ προσώπου σου.
"God is not in his sight, his ways are polluted in all time." He that knows what in the soul gives joy and gladness, knows how great an ill it is to be abandoned by the light of truth: since a great ill do men reckon the blindness of their bodily eyes, whereby this light is withdrawn. How great then the punishment he…
"They will be weakened, and perish from Your face". Who will be weakened and perish, but the unrighteous and ungodly? "They will be weakened," while they shall avail nothing; "and they shall perish," because the ungodly will not be; "from the face" of God, that is, from the knowledge of God, as he perished who said,…
For thou hast maintained my cause and my right; Thou satest on the throne, that judgest righteousness.
Ὅτι ἐποίησας τὴν κρίσιν μου καὶ τὴν δίκην μου, ἐκάθισας ἐπὶ θρόνου ὁ κρίνων δικαιοσύνην.
"You sat on the throne Who judgest equity". Whether the Son say this to the Father, who said also, "You could have no power against Me, except it were given you from above," [John 19:11] referring this very thing, that the Judge of men was judged for men's advantage, to the Father's equity and His own hidden things:…
Thou hast rebuked the nations, and the ungodly one has perished; Thou hast blotted out their name forever, even forever and ever.
Ἐπετίμησας ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἀπώλετο ὁ ἀσεβὴς· τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ἐξήλειψας εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος.
"You have rebuked the heathen, and the ungodly has perished". We take this to be more suitably said to the Lord Jesus Christ, than said by Him. For who else has rebuked the heathen, and the ungodly perished, save He, who after that He ascended up into heaven, sent the Holy Ghost, that, filled by Him, the Apostles…
The swords of the enemy have failed utterly; and thou hast destroyed cities: Their memorial has been destroyed with a noise,
Τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ἐξέλιπον αἱ ῥομφαῖαι εἰς τέλος, καὶ πόλεις καθεῖλες· ἀπώλετο τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῶν μετʼ ἤχου,
"The swords of the enemy have failed at the end". Not enemies in the plural, but this enemy in the singular. Now what enemy's swords have failed but the devil's? Now these are understood to be various erroneous opinions, whereby as with swords he destroys souls. In overcoming these swords, and in bringing them to…
But the Lord endures forever: He has prepared his throne for judgment.
καὶ ὁ Κύριος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα μένει· ἡτοίμασεν ἐν κρίσει τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ,
And seeing that being delivered over to the lust of his own heart, and predestinated to extreme condemnation, he is to come, by wicked arts, to that vain and empty height and rule; therefore it follows, "For he has said in his heart, I shall not move from generation to generation without evil": that is, my fame and my…
"And the Lord abideth for ever" (ver. 7). "Wherefore" then "have the heathen raged, and the people imagined vain things against the Lord, and against His anointed:" for "the Lord abideth for ever. He hath prepared His seat in judgment, and He shall judge the world in equity." He prepared His seat when He was judged.…
And he will judge the world in righteousness, He will judge the nations in uprightness.
καὶ αὐτὸς κρινεῖ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, κρινεῖ λαοὺς ἐν εὐθύτητι.
"Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness and deceit". For it is a great curse to seek heaven by such abominable arts, and to get together such earnings for acquiring the eternal seat. But of this cursing his mouth is full. For this desire shall not take effect, but within his mouth only will avail to destroy…
The Lord also is become a refuge for the poor, A seasonable help, in affliction.
Καὶ ἐγένετο Κύριος καταφυγὴ τῷ πένητι, βοηθὸς ἐν εὐκαιρίαις, ἐν θλίψει.
"He lies in ambush with the rich". What rich, but those whom he will load with this world's gifts? And he is therefore said to lie in ambush with them, because he will display their false happiness to deceive men; who, when with a perverted will they desire to be such as they, and seek not the good things eternal,…
"And the Lord has become a refuge to the poor". Whatsoever be the persecutions of that enemy, who has been turned behind, what harm shall he do to them whose refuge the Lord has become? But this will be, if in this world, in which that one has an office of power, they shall choose to be poor, by loving nothing which…
And let them that know thy name hope in thee: For thou, O Lord, hast not failed them that diligently seek thee.
Καὶ ἐλπισάτωσαν ἐπὶ σὲ οἱ γινώσκοντες τὸ ὄνομά σου, ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπες τοὺς ἐκζητοῦντάς σε Κύριε.
Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion: Declare his dealings among the nations.
Ψάλατε τῷ Κυρίῳ τῷ κατοικοῦντι ἐν Σιὼν, ἀναγγείλατε ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα αὐτοῦ.
"Sing to the Lord, who dwells in Sion", is said to them, whom the Lord forsakes not as they seek Him. He dwells in Sion, which is interpreted watching, and which bears the likeness of the Church that now is; as Jerusalem bears the likeness of the Church that is to come, that is, the city of Saints already enjoying…
For he remembered them, in making inquisition for blood: He has not forgotten the supplication of the poor.
Ὅτι ἐκζητῶν τὰ αἵματα αὐτῶν ἐμνήσθη, οὐκ ἐπελάθετο τῆς δεήσεως τῶν πενήτων.
"His eyes look against the poor," for he is chiefly to persecute the righteous, of whom it is said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 5:3]. "He lies in wait in a secret place, as a lion in his den." By a lion in a den, he means one in whom both violence and deceit will…
Have mercy upon me, O Lord; look upon my affliction which I suffer of mine enemies, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
Ἐλέησόν με Κύριε, ἴδε τὴν ταπείνωσίν μου ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου, ὁ ὑψῶν με ἐκ τῶν πυλῶν τοῦ θανάτου·
That I may declare all thy praises In the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will exult in thy salvation.
Ὅπως ἂν ἐξαγγείλω πάσας τὰς αἰνέσεις σου ἐν ταῖς πύλαις τῆς θυγατρὸς Σιών· ἀγαλλιάσομαι ἐπὶ τῷ σωτηρίῳ σου.
Again, the two which follow are the same. "In his snare he will humble him," is craft. "He shall decline and fall, while he shall have domination over the poor," is violence. For a "snare" naturally points to "lying in wait:" but domination most openly conveys the idea of terror. And well does he say, "He will humble…
The heathen are caught in the destruction which they planned: In the very snare which they hid is their foot taken.
Ἐνεπάγησαν ἔθνη ἐν διαφθορᾷ ᾗ ἐποίησαν· ἐν παγίδι ταύτῃ ᾗ ἔκρυψαν συνελήφθη ὁ ποὺς αὐτῶν.
Then follows, "I will exult for Your salvation:" that is, with blessedness shall I be holden by Your salvation, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, the Power and Wisdom of God. Therefore says the Church, which is here in affliction and is saved by hope, as long as the hidden judgment of the Son is, in hope she says, "I…
The Lord is known as executing judgments: The sinner is taken in the works of his hands. A song of Pause.
Γινώσκεται Κύριος κρίματα ποιῶν, ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ συνελήφθη ὁ ἁμαρτωλός· ᾠδὴ διαψάλματος.
But how shall he decline, and fall? "For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten; He turns away His face, that He see not unto the end." This is declining, and the most wretched fall, while the mind of a man prospers as it were in its iniquities, and thinks that it is spared; when it is being blinded, and kept for…
Let sinners be driven away into Hades, Even all the nations that forget God.
Ἀποστραφήτωσαν οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ εἰς τὸν ᾅδην, πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ ἐπιλανθανόμενα τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Of which the Psalmist now speaks: "Arise, O Lord God, let Thine hand be exalted" (ver. 12): that is, let Thy power be made manifest. Now he had said above, "Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail, let the heathen be judged in Thy sight:" that is, in secret, where God alone seeth. This comes to pass when the ungodly have…
Accordingly understanding now the manifest judgment, and in exultation at it, they say, "Wherefore hath the ungodly angered God?" (ver. 13); that is, what hath it profited him to do so great evil? "For he said in his heart, He will not require it."
For the poor shall not be forgotten forever: The patience of the needy ones shall not perish forever.
Ὅτι οὐκ εἰς τέλος ἐπιλησθήσεται ὁ πτωχὸς, ἡ ὑπομονὴ τῶν πενήτων οὐκ ἀπολεῖται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
Then follows, "For You see toil and considerest anger, to deliver them into Your hands." This sentence looks for distinct explanation, wherein if there shall be error it becomes obscure. For thus has the ungodly said in his heart, God will not require it, as though God regarded toil and anger, to deliver them into His…
"For there shall not be forgetfulness of the poor man to the end"; who now seems to be in forgetfulness, when sinners are thought to flourish in this world's happiness, and the righteous to be in travail: but "the patience," says He, "of the poor shall not perish for ever." Wherefore there is need of patience now to…
Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail: Let the heathen be judged before thee.
Ἀνάστηθι Κύριε, μὴ κραταιούσθω ἄνθρωπος, κριθήτωσαν ἔθνη ἐνώπιόν σου.
"Break the arm of the sinner and of the malicious"; of him, namely, of whom it was said above, "He shall have dominion over all his enemies." He called his power then, his arm; to which Christ's power is opposed, of which it is said, "Arise, O Lord God, let Your hand be exalted. His fault shall be required, and he…
"Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail". The future judgment is prayed for: but before it come, "Let the heathen," says he, "be judged in Your sight:" that is, in secret; which is called in God's sight, with the knowledge of a few holy and righteous ones.
Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them: Let the heathen know that they are men. Pause.
Κατάστησον, Κύριε, νομοθέτην ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, γνώτωσαν ἔθνη ὅτι ἀνθρωποί εἰσι· διάψαλμα.
After this, what wonder if there follow, "The Lord shall reign for ever and world without end; ye heathen shall perish out of His earth"? He uses heathen for sinners and ungodly.
"The Lord has heard the longing of the poor": that longing wherewith they were burning, when in the straits and tribulations of this world they desired the day of the Lord. "Your ear has heard the preparation of their heart." This is the preparation of the heart, of which it is sung in another Psalm, "My heart is…
"To judge for the orphan and the humble": that is, not for him who is conformed to this world, nor for the proud. For it is one thing to judge the orphan, another to judge for the orphan. He judges the orphan even, who condemns him; but he judges for the orphan, who delivers sentence for him. "That man add not further…
"Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail" (ver. 19). The future judgment is prayed for: but before it come, "Let the heathen," saith he, "be judged in Thy sight:" that is, in secret; which is called in God's sight, with the knowledge of a few holy and righteous ones. "Place a lawgiver over them, O Lord" (ver. 20). He seems…
Every note is a real passage, quoted word for word from a published English translation, with its source. Nothing here is summarised or written by us. Some verses have many notes and some have none, because the Fathers wrote more on some passages than others.
All of these translations are in the public domain. The passages were matched to their verses by the Historical Christian Commentaries project, which also hosts the full texts we link to. The Fathers are a treasury of the Church's mind, and they are best read alongside the life of the Church: if a passage raises a question, bring it to your priest.