11 Sing psalms to Jehovah who dwelleth in Zion; tell among the peoples his doings. 12 For when he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them; the cry of the afflicted ones hath he not forgotten. 13 Be gracious unto me, O Jehovah; consider mine affliction from them that hate me, lifting me up from the gates of death: 14 That I may declare all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will be joyful in thy salvation. 15 The nations are sunk down in the pit [that] they made; in the net that they hid is their own foot taken. 16 Jehovah is known [by] the judgment he hath executed: the wicked is ensnared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17 The wicked shall be turned into Sheol, all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy one shall not be forgotten alway; the hope of the meek shall not perish for ever. 19 Arise, Jehovah; let not man prevail: let the nations be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, Jehovah: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 9:11-20
Commentary on Psalm 9:11-20
(Read Psalm 9:11-20)
Those who believe that God is greatly to be praised, not only desire to praise him better themselves, but desire that others may join with them. There is a day coming, when it will appear that he has not forgotten the cry of the humble; neither the cry of their blood, or the cry of their prayers. We are never brought so low, so near to death, but God can raise us up. If he has saved us from spiritual and eternal death, we may thence hope, that in all our distresses he will be a very present help to us. The overruling providence of God frequently so orders it, that persecutors and oppressors are brought to ruin by the projects they formed to destroy the people of God. Drunkards kill themselves; prodigals beggar themselves; the contentious bring mischief upon themselves: thus men's sins may be read in their punishment, and it becomes plain to all, that the destruction of sinners is of themselves. All wickedness came originally with the wicked one from hell; and those who continue in sin, must go to that place of torment. The true state, both of nations and of individuals, may be correctly estimated by this one rule, whether in their doings they remember or forget God. David encourages the people of God to wait for his salvation, though it should be long deferred. God will make it appear that he never did forget them: it is not possible he should. Strange that man, dust in his and about him, should yet need some sharp affliction, some severe visitation from God, to bring him to the knowledge of himself, and make him feel who and what he is.