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Psalm 9:1

King James Version (KJV)

I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

Translations

Psalm 9:1 - Amplified Bible

Psalm 9:1 - American Standard Version

Psalm 9:1 - Bible in Basic English

Psalm 9:1 - Darby Bible

Psalm 9:1 - English Standard Version

Psalm 9:1 - King James Version

Psalm 9:1 - La Biblia de las Americas

Psalm 9:1 - The Message

Psalm 9:1 - New American Standard Bible

Psalm 9:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Psalm 9:1 - World English Bible

Psalm 9:1 - Young's Living Translation

Psalm 9:1 - Additional Comments

The Hebrew word for "psalm" means a song that was to be sung accompanied by a stringed instrument, typically the hand-help harp.
This psalm was written by David, and he had set this psalm aside to be used by the choir director. Who this choir director was is not known, but it might have been the Levite who was in charge of the music used in worship services (see 1 Chron 25).
This psalm was designated "Muth-labben", which literally meant "death to the son" - this was probably the title of the psalm given by David. Some make it to refer to the death of Goliath, others of Nabal, others of Absalom; but it probably signifies only some tone, or some musical instrument, to which this psalm was intended to be sung.
There are several Biblical passages which are written as acrostics (alphabetically ordered verses and each first word commencing with each Hebrew letter of the alphabet in turn, from 1 through to 22). Psalm 119 is a famous example, written with 8 verses for each of the Hebrew consonants in order, so verses 1-8 each have a first word beginning with 'aleph and verses 9-16 each have a first word beginning with beth, and so on.
Psalm 9 and Psalm 10 in the Hebrew text have been set as separate poems, but they actually form a single acrostic poem, and are so presented in the Greek and Latin translations. Each verse of the two psalms begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet (though several letters were skipped and have no corresponding stanza).
Early Jews noted that 22 was significant in not just being the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, but also the number of generations from Adam to Jacob, the number of works of creation, and the number of books in the Jewish canon of the Bible.
This psalm described difficulties David faced, and presents his faith-filled responses to them It does not indicate the specific time in which the book was written, so we cannot determine the time of his life, and therefore which particular troubles he is referring to. David faced many and various enemies in his life over a long period of time. But it is useful to see how David would deal with his difficulties.
I wish I could read this psalm to you in Hebrew, and have you understand it. Because I wish I could relish in the poetry, the way the words come together and flow. We miss so much through translations.
David in this psalm shows his enjoyment of God despite his troubles, and shows the troubles that those without God have to deal with.
David says he here is praising God with his whole heart. Have you ever done anything with your whole heart? What does this mean? I may have gotten close in athletic competition, but I'm not so sure this described my relationship with God. But isn't this what God wants? Luke 10:27 reads "So he answered and said, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" Anything less is less than what God wants.
Is this a goal of yours? I guess it is difficult to have a goal to do this, if you don't know what it is or why God wants it. Tell me, what is this? Tell me, why does God want this?
Let me ask again - is this a goal of yours? I know how to get this - ask God for it! He says you do not have because you do not ask (James 4:2). And this is certainly a prayer aligned with His will. I will start asking God for this.
If you love and praise God this way, how could you not tell of His marvelous works?
By the way, is praise a regular part of your prayers? It is the first thing in the model prayer (Matt 6:9).

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