Psalms 9:8

8 He judges the world with righteousness; He executes judgment on the peoples with fairness.

Psalms 9:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 9:8

And he shall judge the world in righteousness
The word (lbt) , rendered "world", is, as Ben Melech well observes, a general name for all the countries of the habitable world; and so shows that it is the universal judgment that is here spoken of; and which will be carried on and finished with the utmost righteousness, and according to the strictest rules of justice and equity; and is therefore called the righteous judgment of God, ( Romans 2:5 ) ; see ( Psalms 96:13 ) ( 98:9 ) ( Acts 17:31 ) ;

he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness;
which signifies the same with the former clause, unless by the "world" there, should be meant the wicked of the world; and by the "people" here, the people of God; to whom the righteous Judge will give the crown of righteousness.

Psalms 9:8 In-Context

6 The enemy has come to eternal ruin; You have uprooted the cities, and the very memory of them has perished.

7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; He has established His throne for judgment.

8 He judges the world with righteousness; He executes judgment on the peoples with fairness.

9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

10 Those who know Your name trust in You because You have not abandoned those who seek You, Lord.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ps 96:13; 98:9; Rv 19:11