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To the director: With instruments. One of Asaph’s songs of praise.

76 People in Judah know God.
    People in Israel respect his name.
His Temple is in Salem.[a]
    His house is on Mount Zion.
There he shattered the arrows,
    shields, swords, and other weapons of war. Selah

God, you are glorious coming back
    from the hills where you defeated your enemies.
They thought they were strong, but now they lie dead in the fields.
    Their bodies are stripped of all they owned.
    They could not defend themselves.[b]
The God of Jacob shouted at them,
    and their army of chariots and horses fell dead.
God, you are awesome!
    No one can stand against you when you are angry.
8-9 You stood as judge and announced your decision.
    You saved the humble people of the land.
From heaven you gave the decision,
    and the whole earth was silent and afraid.
10 Even human anger can bring you honor
    when you use it to punish your enemies.[c]

11 People, you made promises to the Lord your God.
    Now give him what you promised.
People everywhere fear and respect God,
    and they will bring gifts to him.
12 God defeats great leaders;
    all the kings on earth fear him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 76:2 Salem Another name for Jerusalem. This name means “Peace.”
  2. Psalm 76:5 They … themselves Literally, “The warriors could not find their hands.”
  3. Psalm 76:10 The Hebrew text here is hard to understand.

Psalm 76[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.

God is renowned in Judah;
    in Israel his name is great.(A)
His tent is in Salem,(B)
    his dwelling place in Zion.(C)
There he broke the flashing arrows,(D)
    the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[b](E)

You are radiant with light,(F)
    more majestic than mountains rich with game.
The valiant(G) lie plundered,
    they sleep their last sleep;(H)
not one of the warriors
    can lift his hands.
At your rebuke,(I) God of Jacob,
    both horse and chariot(J) lie still.

It is you alone who are to be feared.(K)
    Who can stand(L) before you when you are angry?(M)
From heaven you pronounced judgment,
    and the land feared(N) and was quiet—
when you, God, rose up to judge,(O)
    to save all the afflicted(P) of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,(Q)
    and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[c]

11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;(R)
    let all the neighboring lands
    bring gifts(S) to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
    he is feared by the kings of the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 76:1 In Hebrew texts 76:1-12 is numbered 76:2-13.
  2. Psalm 76:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 9.
  3. Psalm 76:10 Or Surely the wrath of mankind brings you praise, / and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself