Psalms 9:4

For You have upheld my just cause; You sit on Your throne judging righteously.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, declaring divine action immediately after describing how enemies stumble and perish before Him. This statement functions as a concluding affirmation of deliverance following a recounting of battlefield defeat.

The words — The Hebrew עָשִׂיתָ ('A.si.ta) literally means "you have done" and governs מִשְׁפָּטִי (mishpa.Ti, "my justice") and דִינִי (di.Ni, "my case") to form "you have executed my justice and my case." The verb יָשַׁבְתָּ (ya.Shav.ta) translates as "you have sat," anchoring the imagery to a fixed royal throne.

The thread — The declaration of God upholding the case of the oppressed appears in Psalms 140:12, which notes He defends the cause of the needy. The image of a seated judge ruling with righteousness recurs in Psalms 98:9, which describes the LORD coming to judge the earth with equity.

Why it lands — The text asserts that God actively secures legal vindication for the oppressed and occupies a permanent position of moral authority. A reader must acknowledge that deliverance depends on divine judicial action rather than human effort or circumstance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּֽי־ki-for עָ֭שִׂיתָ'A.si.tayou have done מִשְׁפָּטִ֣יmish.pa.T/ijustice/ my וְדִינִ֑יve./di.N/iand/ cause/ my יָשַׁ֥בְתָּya.Shav.tayou have sat לְ֝כִסֵּ֗אle./khi.Se'to/ a throne שׁוֹפֵ֥טsho.Fetjudging צֶֽדֶק׃Tze.dekrighteousness

King James Version

For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

Cross-references

Psalms 140:12 I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.
1 Peter 2:23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
Psalms 98:9 before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Isaiah 11:4 but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
Psalms 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.
Psalms 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.
Psalms 16:5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.
Psalms 45:6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Psalms 96:13 before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.