Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 9:18

"For the needy shall not alway be forgotten, Nor the expectation of the poor perish for ever." — Psalms 9:18 (ASV)

For the needy — The poor; those who are dependent and helpless.

Shall not always be forgotten — That is, by God. He will intervene and save them by destroying their enemies.

He will not allow the wicked always to persecute and oppress the righteous. In due time he will vindicate his own cause, deliver the oppressed and downtrodden, and consign their oppressors to deserved punishment.

This is as true now, regarding all the oppressed and their oppressors, as it was in the time of the psalmist.

The expectation of the poor — Of the afflicted and the oppressed. The word “expectation” refers to their hope, their desire, their earnest looking for deliverance.

In that state, people naturally look for divine intervention, and the psalmist says that in this hope, they will not always be disappointed.

Shall not perish for ever — The word “not” is supplied here by our translators, but it is appropriate. It is supplied in this way in the Targum, the Syriac, the Vulgate, and the Greek.

Such forms of construction are not uncommon. Compare Psalms 1:5; Deuteronomy 33:6. “The negative is repeated from the preceding clause.” — Michaelis.