Psalm 9:18 kjv
For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
Psalm 9:18 nkjv
For the needy shall not always be forgotten; The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.
Psalm 9:18 niv
But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
Psalm 9:18 esv
For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
Psalm 9:18 nlt
But the needy will not be ignored forever;
the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.
Psalm 9 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 10:17 | O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear… | God hears and strengthens the afflicted. |
| Psa 22:24 | For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted... | God does not scorn the suffering of the poor. |
| Psa 72:12-14 | For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper… | God's rescue for the helpless. |
| Psa 146:7-9 | who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry... | God as defender of the oppressed. |
| Isa 41:17 | When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue is parched… I the LORD will answer them. | God responds to the desperate need. |
| Isa 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor... | Proclamation of hope for the poor. |
| Jer 29:11 | For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. | God's promised future and hope. |
| Lam 3:21-26 | But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases… | Hope endures through God's steadfast love. |
| Luke 1:51-53 | He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts… he has filled the hungry with good things… | God exalts the humble and fills the needy. |
| Luke 4:18-19 | The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor... | Jesus' mission to bring hope to the poor. |
| Psa 1:6 | for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. | Contrast: God knows the righteous, wicked perish. |
| Psa 37:9-11 | But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. | Future inheritance for the humble/meek. |
| Psa 37:28-29 | For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints… | God upholds the righteous, doesn't abandon them. |
| Prov 10:28 | The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. | Hope for righteous brings joy, wicked's hope perishes. |
| Prov 22:22-23 | Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, for the LORD will plead their cause... | God avenges those who wrong the poor. |
| Heb 6:19 | We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure… | Hope provides security and stability. |
| Heb 10:35-36 | Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance… | Enduring confidence leads to reward. |
| Rom 8:24-25 | For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope... But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. | Hope is patient waiting for unseen fulfillment. |
| Rev 21:4 | He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore… | Ultimate vindication and end of suffering. |
| Isa 25:8-9 | He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces… | Future end to sorrow and death. |
| Matt 5:3-10 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… | Beatitudes bless the suffering and the meek. |
Psalm 9 verses
Psalm 9 18 Meaning
Psalm 9:18 declares God’s unwavering faithfulness and justice for the downtrodden. It is a powerful affirmation that the impoverished and oppressed will not be permanently abandoned or forgotten by the divine. Their hope and expectation for deliverance and vindication, which rests in God, will ultimately be fulfilled and will not be destroyed or cease to exist. This verse conveys a strong message of divine remembrance and ultimate justice, assuring that God intervenes on behalf of those who are vulnerable and afflicted.
Psalm 9 18 Context
Psalm 9 is a thanksgiving psalm by David, celebrating God's triumph over enemies and His righteous judgment. The broader chapter highlights God as the eternal King and Judge who vindicates the oppressed and remembers the cries of the afflicted, in contrast to the perishing of the wicked. Chapters 9 and 10 form an interconnected unit, possibly a single psalm originally due to their acrostic pattern (though incomplete and interrupted), emphasizing God’s just intervention in a world filled with the arrogance and schemes of the wicked. Historically, it reflects the constant tension between the righteous and the unrighteous, often mirroring David's own struggles with adversaries but extending to all who are helpless and dependent on God for justice. It functions as a declaration against the common belief that deities were indifferent to human suffering or favored the powerful, emphasizing Yahweh's unique character as the active defender of the anawim (humble, oppressed).
Psalm 9 18 Word analysis
- For (כִּי - ki): A conjunction, here indicating the reason or explanation for God’s actions or the psalmist’s confidence, building on the preceding affirmations of divine justice and judgment.
- the needy (אֶבְיוֹן -
evyon): Refers to those who are poor, destitute, and lacking resources. This term signifies material poverty but extends to vulnerability, dependence, and being at the mercy of others. God often shows special concern for them throughout the Scripture. - shall not (לֹא - lo): A strong negation, ensuring certainty of the statement.
- always (לָנֶצַח - lanetzakh): "Forever," "eternally," "always." It denotes a permanent duration, emphasizing that the state of being forgotten is not eternal; it will end.
- be forgotten (יִשָּׁכַח - yishakakh): Qal passive imperfect of
shakach, "to forget." The passive voice implies that God is the one who will not forget, or that their state of being forgotten by others (or their perception of it) will not continue. God’s memory implies His active remembrance and intervention. - the expectation (תִּקְוַת - tiqvah): "Hope," "something waited for," "cord," "expectation." It’s not merely a wish but a confident waiting, an anchor for the soul (Heb 6:19), rooted in God's character and promises. It implies steadfastness and resilience in faith.
- of the poor (עֲנָוִים -
anawim): "Humble," "meek," "afflicted," "oppressed." Similar toevyonbut often emphasizes a disposition of humility and reliance on God despite suffering, distinct from the arrogance of the wicked. They are the "pious poor." - shall not (לֹא - lo): Again, a strong negation for emphasis.
- perish (תֹאבַד - to'vad): Qal imperfect of
avad, "to perish," "be lost," "be destroyed." It signifies destruction, annihilation, or coming to nothing. - forever (לָעַד - la'ad): Similar to
lanetzakh, meaning "eternally," "for all time." It stresses the enduring and never-failing nature of the hope held by the oppressed.
Word-group analysis
- "For the needy shall not always be forgotten": This phrase asserts divine remembrance and a limit to the affliction of the vulnerable. It's a statement against the appearance of perpetual abandonment, emphasizing that God's justice is slow but certain, turning a potential feeling of neglect into assurance of intervention.
- "the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever": This phrase guarantees the ultimate fulfillment of hope for the
anawim. It highlights the enduring nature of their hope which is founded on God’s character, affirming that their confident waiting will culminate in vindication and not in disappointment.
Psalm 9 18 Bonus section
The repeated use of "forever" (lanetzakh and la'ad) in a negative context strongly underlines the temporary nature of suffering and perceived divine neglect versus the eternal nature of God's care and the tiqvah (hope) placed in Him. This provides immense encouragement, shifting the perspective from immediate circumstances to God’s ultimate triumph. The anawim, often highlighted in the Psalms and prophetic literature, represent those who possess not only material poverty but also a spiritual posture of humility and dependence on God. They are God's favored ones, distinct from the arrogant wicked. The psalmist's confidence expressed here is not born of mere wishful thinking, but from an understanding of God's unwavering character revealed through His historical acts of justice.
Psalm 9 18 Commentary
Psalm 9:18 stands as a bedrock promise of God's enduring justice and remembrance, especially for those marginalized and suffering. It dispels the notion that God is indifferent or slow to act indefinitely, asserting a finite limit to the periods of neglect and despair. The double assurance – that the needy will not be "always forgotten" and their hope will not "perish forever" – conveys an absolute certainty of divine intervention. This verse speaks to a God who actively remembers the cries of the anawim (humble/oppressed), affirming that their trust and longing for vindication (tiqvah) are not misplaced. It reassures believers that even in times of seeming abandonment or delay, God's character as the righteous Judge remains unchanged, ensuring a future where all wrongs are righted, and true hope finds its eternal fulfillment. This profound truth calls believers to patiently endure, resting in God’s unfailing memory and sovereign purpose.