The church praises God for his protection against her enemies.

¹ Unto the end. For the secrets of the Son. A Psalm of David.¹²

1. 9:1Or, ‘for the hidden things of the Son.’ Some psalms have an introductory verse that often contains an instruction concerning the reciting or singing of the psalm, or a statement about its topic, or dedication, or purpose. Even the most devout and knowledgeable Christian does not know everything, or even most things that could be known about the Son. He is ever partially hidden from our view.(Conte)
2. 9:1The hidden things of the Son: The humility and sufferings of Christ, the Son of God; and of good Christians, who are his sons by adoption; are called hidden things, with regard to the children of this world, who know not the value and merit of them.(Challoner)

² I will confess to you, Lord, with my whole heart. I will recount all your wonders.

³ I will rejoice and exult in you. I will sing a psalm to your name, O Most High.

⁴ For my enemy will be turned back. They will be weakened and perish before your face.

⁵ For you have accomplished my judgment and my cause. You have sat upon the throne that judges justice.

⁶ You have rebuked the Gentiles, and the impious one has perished. You have deleted their name in eternity and for all generations.¹

1. 9:6Their name has been deleted in eternity (Heaven) and for all future generations on earth. For at the general Resurrection God takes away Heaven and earth, and He makes a new Heaven and a new earth.(Conte)

⁷ The spears of the enemy have failed in the end, and their cities, you have destroyed. Their memory has perished with a loud noise.

⁸ But the Lord remains in eternity. He has prepared his throne in judgment.

⁹ And he will judge the whole world in equity. He will judge the people in justice.

¹⁰ And the Lord has become a refuge for the poor, a helper in opportunity, in tribulation.

¹¹ And may they hope in you, who know your name. For you have not abandoned those seeking you, Lord.

¹² Sing a psalm to the Lord, who dwells in Zion. Announce his study among the Gentiles.¹

1. 9:12The word ‘studia’ refers to a topic of study, devotion, or interest. The topic is the teaching of the Church.(Conte)

¹³ Because of those who yearned for their blood, he has remembered them. He has not forgotten the cry of the poor.

¹⁴ Have mercy on me, Lord. See my humiliation from my enemies.

¹⁵ You lift me up from the gates of death, so that I may announce all your praises at the gates of the daughter of Zion.¹

1. 9:15Or, ‘at the gates of daughter Zion.’(Conte)

¹⁶ I will exult in your salvation. The Gentiles have become trapped in the ruin that they made. Their foot has been caught in the same snare that they themselves had hidden.

¹⁷ The Lord will be recognized when making judgments. The sinner has been caught in the works of his own hands. Pause

¹⁸ The sinners will be turned into Hell: all the Gentiles who have forgotten God.¹

1. 9:18Gentiles, in this context, refers to any and all who ignore or reject God, to non-believers rather merely to non-Jews.(Conte)

¹⁹ For the poor will not be forgotten in the end. The patience of the poor will not perish in the end.

²⁰ Rise up, Lord: do not let man be strengthened. Let the Gentiles be judged in your sight.

²¹ O Lord, establish a lawgiver over them, so that the Gentiles may know that they are only men.¹ Pause

1. 9:21Here the late Hebrew doctors divide this psalm into two, making ver. 22 the beginning of Psalm 10. And again they join Psalms 146 and 147 into one, in order that the whole number of psalms should not exceed 150. And in this manner the psalms are numbered in the Protestant Bible.(Challoner)

²² So then, why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away? Why have you overlooked us in opportunity, in tribulation?

²³ While the impious is arrogant, the poor is enflamed. They are held by the counsels that they devise.

²⁴ For the sinner is praised by the desires of his soul, and the iniquitous is blessed.¹

1. 9:24The meaning is that the sinner is given praise for his sins by the sinful desires in his soul, and likewise, the iniquitous person is given blessings by the iniquity in his soul. In this context, the word ‘benedicitur’ is not a euphemism for cursing. One finds this euphemism in Job 2:9, where the wife of Job is speaking about God. She says ‘Bless God,’ because she dare not say the words ‘Curse God.’ However, Scripture itself, when explaining the truth to us, does not refrain from using the word ‘curse.’(Conte)

²⁵ The sinner has provoked the Lord; according to the multitude of his wrath, he will not seek him.

²⁶ God is not before his sight. His ways are stained at all times. Your judgments are removed from his face. He will be master of all his enemies.

²⁷ For he has said in his heart, “I will not be disturbed: from generation to generation without evil.”¹

1. 9:27The word ‘movebor’ can be translated as ‘moved’ or as ‘disturbed.’ The word ‘malo’ can be translated as ‘evil’ or as ‘misfortune’ or ‘disaster.’(Conte)

²⁸ His mouth is full of curses, and bitterness, and deceit. Under his tongue are hardship and sorrow.

²⁹ He sits in ambush, with resources in hidden places, so that he may execute the innocent.

³⁰ His eyes catch sight of the poor. He lies in ambush, in hiding like a lion in his den. He lies in ambush, so that he may seize the poor, to seize the poor as he draws him in.

³¹ With his snare, he will bring him down. He will crouch down and pounce, when he has power over the poor.

³² For he has said in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has turned away his face, lest he see to the end.”

³³ O Lord God, rise up. Let your hand be exalted. Do not forget the poor.

³⁴ How has the impious one provoked God? For he has said in his heart, “He will not inquire.”

³⁵ You do see, for you examine hardship and sorrow, so that you may deliver them into your hands. The poor one has been abandoned to you. You will be a helper to the orphan.

³⁶ Break the arm of the sinner and the malicious. His sin will be sought, and it will not be found.¹

1. 9:36His sin will not be found because he has been defeated by God and his sinful deeds are no more.(Conte)

³⁷ The Lord shall reign in eternity, even forever and ever. You will perish the Gentiles from his land.

³⁸ The Lord has heeded the desire of the poor. Your ear has listened to the preparation of their heart,

³⁹ so as to judge for the orphan and the humble, so that man may no longer presume to magnify himself upon the earth.