Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Psalm 9

Here is a direct side-by-side comparison of the Masoretic Text with the LXX. I have concluded that the LXX is much to be preferred over the Masoretic Text, a position from which the Eastern Orthodox Church never deviated. Perhaps, if you take the time to read my comparisons and other articles, you will arrive at the same conclusion.

The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which is available in print or as part of Logos Bible Software. Occasionally I also use the Brenton translation of the LXX for insight into difficult passages.

If you want to know more, click on the following links.

Masoretic Text	Septuagint	Significance
To the Chief Musician. To The Tune of “Death of the Son.” A Psalm of David. 1 I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:title–2 (NKJV)	1 FOR THE END, ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETS OF THE SON, A PSALM OF DAVID. 2 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart. I will set out in detail all your marvelous deeds. 3 I will be cheerful and rejoice exceedingly in you. I will sing to your name, O Highest One! Psalm 9:1–3 (LES2)	The MT and LXX even disagree in the title. However, after that we have basic unity.
3 When my enemies turn back, They shall fall and perish at Your presence. 4 For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. 5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. Psalm 9:3–5 (NKJV)	4 When my enemy is turned away backwards, they will be weak and perish from your face, 5 because you executed my judgment and my cause. You sat upon the throne, you who decides righteousness. 6 You rebuked the nations, and the ungodly one perished. You blotted out their name for eternity, and for eternity of eternity. Psalm 9:4–6 (LES2)	I see little difference here.
6 O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And you have destroyed cities; Even their memory has perished. 7 But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. 8 He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. Psalm 9:6–8 (NKJV)	7 The swords of the enemy finally came to an end, and you took down their cities. The memory of them perished with a sound. 8 But the Lord remains for eternity. He prepared his throne with judgment. 9 And he will judge the inhabited world with righteousness. He will judge the peoples with uprightness. Psalm 9:7–9 (LES2)	I see little difference here.
9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:9–10 (NKJV)	10 And the Lord became a place of refuge for the poor, a helper in the times in affliction. 11 And let the ones who know your name hope in you, because you did not leave behind the ones seeking you, O Lord. Psalm 9:10–11 (LES2)	I see little difference here.
11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. 12 When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. 13 Have mercy on me, O LORD! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 That I may tell of all Your praise In the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation. Psalm 9:11–14 (NKJV)	12 Sing to the Lord who dwells in Zion. Report his practices among the nations, 13 because the one who demands an account for bloodshed remembered them. He did not forget the entreaty of the poor. 14 Have mercy on me, O Lord. See my lowliness from my enemies. You are the one who lifts me from the gates of death, 15 that I would proclaim all your praises among the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice greatly at your salvation. Psalm 9:12–15 (LES2)	I do not see much actual difference here.
15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah Psalm 9:15–16 (NKJV)	16 The nations were stuck in the destruction that they made; in this trap, which they hid, their foot is caught. 17 The Lord is known as the one making judgments; the sinful one is caught in the works of his hands. Psalm 9:16–17 (LES2)	I do not see much difference. The word the MT translates as pit can also mean destruction.
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten; The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. 19 Arise, O LORD, Do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in Your sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD, That the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah Psalm 9:17–20 (NKJV)	18 Let the sinners be turned back into Hades, all the nations that forget God. 19 For the poor one will not be completely forgotten. The endurance of the poor ones will not perish for eternity. 20 Rise up, O Lord. Do not let a person be strengthened. Let the nations be judged before you. 21 Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them. Let the nations know that they are mere humans. Psalm 9:18–21 (LES2)	The MT uses the word “expectation” regarding the poor, but the LXX promises that their “endurance” will not fail. In verse 21, the MT has David asking God to put the nations in fear, but the LXX says, “Appoint…a lawgiver over them.” The result David wants is the same in both versions, that the nations will humbly realize their status as created beings.

Summary: If only all the passages I compare were so identical, but that is not the case. It is interesting here that the LXX continues Psalm 9 in verse 22, but the MT begins a new psalm, #10. From here to near the end of psalms, the numbering will be off by one.

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