Psalms 9:13

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:

Have mercy {H2603} upon me, O LORD {H3068}; consider {H7200} my trouble {H6040} which I suffer of them that hate {H8130} me, thou that liftest me up {H7311} from the gates {H8179} of death {H4194}:

"Have mercy on me, ADONAI! See how I suffer from those who hate me; you raise me from the gates of death,

Be merciful to me, O LORD; see how my enemies afflict me! Lift me up from the gates of death,

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;

Psalms 9:13 is a heartfelt plea from the psalmist, likely King David, to God for divine intervention in a time of severe distress. It encapsulates a profound trust in God's power to save even from the brink of death.

Context

Psalm 9 is a unique blend of thanksgiving and lament. While the initial verses (Psalm 9:1-12) celebrate God's past victories and His just rule over the nations, verse 13 marks a shift to a direct petition for help in the present struggle. The psalmist is surrounded by enemies and suffering greatly, yet he remembers God's character as a righteous judge and deliverer. This verse forms the bridge between remembering God's past faithfulness and appealing for His present mercy.

Key Themes

  • Plea for Mercy: The opening phrase, "Have mercy upon me, O LORD," is a fundamental cry of dependence. It acknowledges God's sovereign right to grant or withhold favor and expresses the psalmist's desperate need for divine compassion.
  • Suffering from Adversaries: The psalmist clearly identifies the source of his trouble: "them that hate me." This highlights the reality of opposition and persecution faced by believers throughout history, and the emotional and physical toll it takes.
  • God as the Ultimate Deliverer: The powerful declaration, "thou that liftest me up from the gates of death," underscores God's absolute power over life and death. The "gates of death" symbolize the deepest peril, the very entrance to the underworld or Sheol, from which only God can rescue. This phrase speaks to God's ability to provide miraculous deliverance from mortal danger.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "gates of death" (Hebrew: sha'arei mavet) is a vivid poetic metaphor common in ancient Near Eastern literature and the Bible. It does not refer to literal gates but symbolizes the point of no return, the threshold of destruction, or the very entrance to the realm of the dead. For the psalmist to be "lifted up" from these gates signifies a profound act of rescue and restoration, a miraculous preservation of life.

Related Scriptures

This verse resonates with other passages that speak of God's mercy and deliverance from peril. For similar pleas for God's compassion, see Psalm 51:1. The theme of God lifting one up from despair or imminent death is also found in Psalm 3:3, where God is described as the "lifter up of mine head," and more explicitly concerning deliverance from the gates of death in Psalm 107:18. The psalmist's confidence in God's ability to save from enemies is a recurring motif, as seen in Psalm 18:3.

Practical Application

Psalms 9:13 offers profound comfort and guidance for believers today. It teaches us that:

  1. It is right to cry out to God in distress: Like the psalmist, we are encouraged to bring our troubles, fears, and the pain caused by others directly to the Lord, trusting in His compassion.
  2. God is sovereign over all circumstances: No matter how dire our situation, even when we feel at the "gates of death" (whether literally or metaphorically through overwhelming despair, illness, or persecution), God possesses the power to deliver and restore.
  3. Our hope is in God's character: The psalmist appeals to God based on who He is—a merciful God who lifts up the afflicted. This provides a foundation for faith even when circumstances seem hopeless.

This verse serves as a timeless prayer for those facing overwhelming opposition, reminding us that our ultimate deliverance comes from the Lord.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 86:13

    For great [is] thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

  • Psalms 30:3

    O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

  • Psalms 142:6

    Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

  • Psalms 25:19

    Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

  • Lamentations 1:9

    Her filthiness [is] in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified [himself].

  • Psalms 56:13

    For thou hast delivered my soul from death: [wilt] not [thou deliver] my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

  • Psalms 116:3

    The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back