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 103:1

Psalm 103 ⁴ 

By David.

103:1 Praise the Lord, O my soul!

With all that is within me, praise ⁵  his holy name!

Psalms 138:1

Psalm 138 ⁶ 

By David.

138:1 I will give you thanks with all my heart;

before the heavenly assembly ⁷  I will sing praises to you.

[9:1]  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.

[9:1]  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.

[9:1]  ³ tn The cohortative forms in vv. 1-2 express the psalmist’s resolve to praise God publicly.

[103:1]  ⁴ sn Psalm 103. The psalmist praises God for his mercy and willingness to forgive his people.

[103:1]  ⁵ tn The verb “praise” is understood by ellipsis in the second line (see the preceding line).

[138:1]  ⁶ sn Psalm 138. The psalmist vows to thank the Lord for his deliverance and protection.

[138:1]  ⁷ tn The referent of the Hebrew term אֱלֹהִים (’elohim) is unclear. It refers either to the angelic assembly (see Gen 3:5; Ps 8:5) or to the pagan gods (see Pss 82:1, 6; 86:8; 97:7), in which case the psalmist’s praise takes on a polemical tone.