Psalms 9:1

Psalm 9 1 

For the music director; according to the alumoth-labben style; 2  a psalm of David.

9:1 I will thank the Lord with all my heart!

I will tell about all your amazing deeds! 3 

Psalms 131:1

Psalm 131 4 

A song of ascents, 5  by David.

131:1 O Lord, my heart is not proud,

nor do I have a haughty look. 6 

I do not have great aspirations,

or concern myself with things that are beyond me. 7 

1 sn Psalm 9. The psalmist, probably speaking on behalf of Israel or Judah, praises God for delivering him from hostile nations. He celebrates God’s sovereignty and justice, and calls on others to join him in boasting of God’s greatness. Many Hebrew mss and the ancient Greek version (LXX) combine Psalms 9 and 10 into a single psalm.

2 tc The meaning of the Hebrew term עַלְמוּת (’almut) is uncertain. Some mss divide the form into עַל מוּת (’al mut, “according to the death [of the son]”), while the LXX assumes a reading עֲלֻמוֹת עַל (’al ’alumot, “according to alumoth”). The phrase probably refers to a particular tune or musical style.

3 tn The cohortative forms in vv. 1-2 express the psalmist’s resolve to praise God publicly.

4 sn Psalm 131. The psalmist affirms his humble dependence on the Lord and urges Israel to place its trust in God.

5 sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

6 tn Heb “and my eyes are not lifted up.”

7 tn Heb “I do not walk in great things, and in things too marvelous for me.”