Psalm 9:16
New International Version
The LORD is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.

New Living Translation
The LORD is known for his justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds. Quiet Interlude

English Standard Version
The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD is known by the justice He brings; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion Selah

King James Bible
The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

New King James Version
The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah

New American Standard Bible
The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. A wicked one is ensnared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion Selah

NASB 1995
The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.

NASB 1977
The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.

Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.

Amplified Bible
The LORD has made Himself known; He executes judgment; The wicked are trapped by the work of their own hands. Higgaion (meditation) Selah.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD has made himself known; he has executed justice, snaring the wicked by the work of their hands. Higgaion. Selah

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD has revealed Himself; He has executed justice, striking down the wicked by the work of their hands. Higgaion. Selah

American Standard Version
Jehovah hath made himself known, he hath executed judgment: The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. [Higgaion. Selah.

Contemporary English Version
You showed what you are like, and you made certain that justice is done, but evil people are trapped by their own evil deeds.

English Revised Version
The LORD hath made himself known, he hath executed judgment: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD is known by the judgment he has carried out. The wicked person is trapped by the work of his own hands. [Higgaion Selah]

Good News Translation
The LORD has revealed himself by his righteous judgments, and the wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

International Standard Version
The LORD has made himself known, executing judgment. The wicked are ensnared by what their hands have made. Interlude

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD is known by the justice He brings; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion Selah

NET Bible
The LORD revealed himself; he accomplished justice; the wicked were ensnared by their own actions. (Higgaion. Selah)

New Heart English Bible
The LORD has made himself known. He has executed judgment. The wicked is snared by the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

World English Bible
Yahweh has made himself known. He has executed judgment. The wicked is snared by the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
YHWH has been known, "" He has done judgment; By a work of his hands "" The wicked has been snared. Meditation. Selah.

Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah hath been known, Judgment He hath done, By a work of his hands Hath the wicked been snared. Meditation. Selah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah was known by the judgment he did: by the work of his hands the unjust was snared. Meditation. Silence.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord shall be known when he executeth judgments: the sinner hath been caught in the works of his own hands.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The Lord will be recognized when making judgments. The sinner has been caught in the works of his own hands.

New American Bible
The LORD is revealed in making judgments: by the deeds they do the wicked are trapped. Higgaion. Selah

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The LORD makes known the judgment which he executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH makes known the judgment that he does, and the wicked is caught by the work of his hands.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The LORD hath made Himself known, He hath executed judgment, The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The Lord is known as executing judgments: the sinner is taken in the works of his hands. A song of Pause.
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Give Thanks to the LORD
15The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. 16The LORD is known by the justice He brings; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion Selah 17The wicked will return to Sheol—all the nations who forget God.…

Cross References
Proverbs 11:5-6
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness. / The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.

Proverbs 26:27
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

Proverbs 28:10
He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.

Job 18:7-10
His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up. / For his own feet lead him into a net, and he wanders into its mesh. / A trap seizes his heel; a snare grips him. ...

Psalm 7:15-16
He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. / His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.

Psalm 10:2
In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.

Psalm 35:8
May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.

Psalm 37:15
But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Psalm 57:6
They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it! Selah

Psalm 141:10
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.

Ecclesiastes 10:8
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.

Isaiah 8:15
Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”

Isaiah 24:17-18
Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of the earth. / Whoever flees the sound of panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are open, and the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Jeremiah 18:22
Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.

Matthew 7:2
For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.


Treasury of Scripture

The LORD is known by the judgment which he executes: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

known

Psalm 48:11
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

Psalm 58:10,11
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked…

Psalm 83:17,18
Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: …

wicked

Psalm 11:6
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

Psalm 140:9
As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

Proverbs 6:2
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Higgaion, that is, Meditation

Psalm 5:1
To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 92:3
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.

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Psalm 9
1. David praises God for executing judgment
11. He incites others to praise him
13. He prays that he may have cause to praise him














The LORD is known
The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. In the context of this verse, "is known" suggests a revelation of God's character through His actions. Historically, God's interventions in the affairs of nations and individuals have consistently revealed His attributes, particularly His justice and righteousness. This phrase underscores the idea that God's identity and nature are made manifest through His deeds, inviting believers to recognize and trust in His sovereign rule.

by the justice He brings
The Hebrew word for "justice" is "mishpat," which encompasses not only legal judgments but also the broader concept of righteousness and moral order. In the ancient Near Eastern context, justice was a fundamental aspect of a king's rule, and here it is attributed to God as the ultimate King. This phrase highlights that God's justice is not arbitrary but is an integral part of His divine nature. It serves as a reassurance to the faithful that God will ultimately set things right, rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked, thus maintaining the moral order of the universe.

the wicked are ensnared
The term "ensnared" comes from the Hebrew "naqash," which means to be caught or trapped. This imagery is powerful, suggesting that the wicked, in their attempts to harm others or defy God, ultimately fall into their own traps. This reflects a common biblical theme where evil deeds lead to self-destruction. The historical context of ancient Israel often saw enemies of God's people devising schemes against them, only to be thwarted by divine intervention. This serves as a warning to those who oppose God's ways and a comfort to believers that God is actively working against evil.

by the work of their hands
This phrase emphasizes personal responsibility and the consequences of one's actions. The "work of their hands" refers to the deeds and schemes devised by the wicked. In biblical times, hands were often symbolic of action and power. This phrase suggests that the wicked's own efforts to achieve their ends become the means of their downfall. It is a reminder of the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, where individuals ultimately face the consequences of their actions. This serves as both a caution to avoid wickedness and an encouragement that God's justice will prevail.

(16) The Lord.--Better, Jehovah hath made himself known. He hath executed judgment, snaring the wicked in the work of his own hands.

Higgaion. Selah.--Higgaion occurs three times in the Psalms--here. Psalm 19:14, and Psalm 92:4 (Heb.). In the two latter places it is translated; in Psalm 19:14, "meditation;" in Psalm 92:4, "solemn sound." Both meanings are etymologically possible, but the word apparently, indicates some change in the music, or possibly, as joined with selah, a direction to some particular part of the orchestra.

Verse 16. - The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth; rather, the Lord hath made himself known; he executeth judgment (see the Revised Version; and comp. Ezekiel 20:9). The two clauses are grammatically distinct, though no doubt closely connected in their meaning. God makes himself known - manifests his character, by the judgments which he executes, shows himself just, perhaps severe, certainly One who "will not at all acquit the wicked" (Nahum 1:3). The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Some translate, "he snareth the wicked," or, "by snaring the wicked" - the special way in which God manifests himself (see Kay, p. 31; 'Speaker's Commentary,' vol. 4. p. 190). Higgaion. This word is found in three other places only, viz. Psalm 19:14; Psalm 92:3; and Lamentations 3:61. In the first it is translated "meditation," and has clearly that meaning; in the second it is supposed to mean "a gentle strain:" in the third it seems best rendered by "musing" or "reflection." Here it stands by itself, as a sort of rubrical direction, like the following word, "Selah." Some suppose it a direction to the choir to play a gentle strain of instrumental music as an interlude; others regard it as enjoining upon the congregation a space of quiet "meditation" (see Hengstenberg, ad loc.; and compare Professor Alexander's work, 'The Psalms translated and explained,' p. 45). Selah (see the comment on Psalm 3:2).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The LORD
יְהוָה֮ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

is known
נ֤וֹדַ֨ע ׀ (nō·w·ḏa‘)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

by the justice
מִשְׁפָּ֪ט (miš·pāṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

He brings;
עָ֫שָׂ֥ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the wicked
רָשָׁ֑ע (rā·šā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

are ensnared
נוֹקֵ֣שׁ (nō·w·qêš)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5367: To knock, strike, hit, strike or bring down

by the work
בְּפֹ֣עַל (bə·p̄ō·‘al)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6467: Doing, deed, work

of their hands.
כַּ֭פָּיו (kap·pāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

Higgaion
הִגָּי֥וֹן (hig·gā·yō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1902: A murmuring sound, a musical notation, a machination

Selah
סֶֽלָה׃ (se·lāh)
Interjection
Strong's 5542: Suspension, pause


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OT Poetry: Psalm 9:16 Yahweh has made himself known (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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