Read
Psalm 9:8
He will judge the world in righteousness. He will administer judgment to the peoples in uprightness.
6The enemy is overtaken by endless ruin. The very memory of the cities which you have overthrown has perished.
7But the LORD reigns forever. He has prepared his throne for judgment.
8He will judge the world in righteousness. He will administer judgment to the peoples in uprightness.
9The LORD will also be a high tower for the oppressed; a high tower in times of trouble.
10Those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Notice
The world falls under God's judgment, and the repeated stress on righteousness and uprightness can bring both comfort and sober self-examination.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What injustice comes to mind as you read that God will judge the world in righteousness?
Write on thisHow does being among the peoples God judges shape your response to this promise?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 96:10Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.Both passages declare that the LORD judges the peoples with a standard of justice, expressed as uprightness and equity.
Acts 17:31because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, …Both declare that God will judge the world in righteousness; Acts names an appointed day and the man God has ordained.
Psalm 67:4Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah.Both describe just judgment over the peoples; Psalm 67 makes that equity a reason for the nations to sing.
Luke 18:7Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?Both concern God's action to establish justice; Luke focuses on his chosen ones crying to him for vindication.
Psalm 96:13before the LORD; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.Both speak of judging the world with righteousness and extend that judgment to the peoples.
Psalm 58:11so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”Both affirm that God judges the earth, with Psalm 58 also naming a reward for the righteous.
Revelation 20:12–13I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were …Both portray judgment reaching across human ranks; Revelation describes the great and small standing before the throne.
Romans 2:16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.Both affirm God's judgment of people; Romans specifies that this judgment includes human secrets and comes through Jesus Christ.
Romans 2:5–6But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of …Both name God's judgment as righteous; Romans addresses the unrepentant heart facing that judgment.
Genesis 18:25May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from …Both connect God's authority over the whole earth with doing right in judgment.
Romans 9:28for he will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”The shared thread is the Lord's righteous action on earth; Romans speaks of completing his work without naming the peoples' judgment here.
Isaiah 11:4–5but he will judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with …Both describe judgment marked by righteousness; Isaiah specifies equity for the humble and judgment against the wicked.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. fear for the future. leadership weight.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Injustice can leave you unsure whether anyone will put things right. The Judge of the world is righteous, and uprightness governs his judgment.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).