Psalms 9:13

13 LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

Psalms 9:13 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
English Standard Version (ESV)
13 Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
New Living Translation (NLT)
13 LORD, have mercy on me. See how my enemies torment me. Snatch me back from the jaws of death.
The Message Bible (MSG)
13 Be kind to me, God; I've been kicked around long enough. Once you've pulled me back from the gates of death,
American Standard Version (ASV)
13 Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah; Behold my affliction [which I suffer] of them that hate me, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death;
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
13 Have pity on me, O LORD. Look at what I suffer because of those who hate me. You take me away from the gates of death
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
13 Be gracious to me, Lord; consider my affliction at the hands of those who hate me. Lift me up from the gates of death,
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
13 Lord, see how badly my enemies treat me! Show me your favor. Don't let me go down to the gates of death.

Psalms 9:13 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 9:13

Have mercy upon me, O Lord
The psalmist proceeds to petitions on his own account in this verse: the ends he proposes by the fulfilling of them are mentioned in the next. A good man, a man called by the grace of God, though he has obtained mercy of the Lord, yet still stands in need of more, of fresh discoveries of pardoning grace and mercy, of merciful supplies, of merciful support, and merciful deliverances from enemies, inward and outward: and such an one flees to God, and not to the creature; and pleads, not his own dignity, righteousness, or merit, but the mercy of God;

consider, my trouble [which I suffer] of them that hate me;
or "see my affliction because of mine enemies" F12; look upon me under it with an eye of pity and compassion, and help and deliver me; and look upon mine enemies that give me this trouble, and take vengeance on them;

thou that liftest me up from the gates of death;
the house appointed for all living; that is, from the power of it, when just upon the brink of it; when near it, as a person is to an house, when he is at the gates of it; either through sickness, or some violent distemper of body, as Hezekiah was; or through some imminent danger in battle, as David was when engaged with Goliath; when everyone thought, as Kimchi observes, that he should fall by his hand: or it may be this may have respect to his being raised up from the death of sin, and delivered from the power of darkness; to his being brought out of the horrible pit and miry clay of an unregenerate state, and set upon the rock of salvation; which is a lifting up indeed, an exaltation from a very low to a very high estate: and this the psalmist takes notice of to encourage his faith; and makes use of it as an argument with God, that as he had dealt so graciously and bountifully with him, he would still show mercy to him, and look upon him under his affliction.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (yanwvm yyne har) "intuere afflictionem meum propter osores meos", Gejerus.

Psalms 9:13 In-Context

11 Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.
12 For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.
13 LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Numbers 10:9; Psalms 3:7; Psalms 18:3; Psalms 38:19
  • 2. Psalms 6:2; Psalms 41:4; Psalms 51:1; Psalms 86:3,16; Psalms 119:132
  • 3. S Job 17:16; Matthew 16:18
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