Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 9:13

"Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah; Behold my affliction [which I suffer] of them that hate me, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death;" — Psalms 9:13 (ASV)

Have mercy upon me, O Lord - The cry for mercy implies that though God had intervened and granted them surprising deliverances, he was still surrounded by enemies and was still in trouble. (See introduction to the psalm, sections 2 and 3).

He had been delivered from many troubles, but many were still pressing upon him. He now calls on God to intervene further on his behalf and to grant him entire deliverance from all his sorrows and dangers.

The trouble to which he refers here was of the same kind as that referred to in the former part of the psalm - that arising from the efforts of formidable enemies.

Consider my trouble - Do not forget this trouble; remember it; look upon its character and its depth, and mercifully intervene to deliver me.

Which I suffer from those who hate me - Or, “see my suffering arising from those who hate me; or, which is produced by those who hate me.” The design is to fix the attention on the greatness of that suffering as caused by his “haters” or by his enemies - the foes that were still unsubdued.

You who lift me up from the gates of death - This means you on whom I rely to do this, or who have done it in times past.

The imagery here is of death as a place enclosed by bars and walls and entered through gates - the grave leading to it. (See Introduction to Job, Section 7, and the notes at Job 10:21-22).

The psalmist felt that he had come near to that dark and gloomy abode, and that God alone could rescue him from it. Therefore, in the trouble that now threatened his life, he looks to God to intervene and save him.