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Psalm 73-77
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 73-77
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Book III
(Psalms 73–89)
Psalm 73
Plea for Relief from Oppressors
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.(A)
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
my steps had nearly slipped.(B)
3 For I was envious of the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(C)
4 For they have no pain;
their bodies are sound and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not plagued like other people.(D)
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them like a garment.(E)
7 Their eyes swell out with fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.(F)
8 They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.(G)
9 They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues range over the earth.
10 Therefore the people turn and praise them[a]
and find no fault in them.[b]
11 And they say, “How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?”(H)
12 Such are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.(I)
13 All in vain I have kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.(J)
14 For all day long I have been plagued
and am punished every morning.(K)
15 If I had said, “I will talk on in this way,”
I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,(L)
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I perceived their end.(M)
18 Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.(N)
19 How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!(O)
20 They are[c] like a dream when one awakes;
on awaking you despise their phantoms.(P)
21 When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was stupid and ignorant;
I was like a brute beast toward you.(Q)
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me with honor.[d](R)
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.(S)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[e] of my heart and my portion forever.(T)
27 Indeed, those who are far from you will perish;
you put an end to those who are false to you.(U)
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
to tell of all your works.(V)
Psalm 74
Plea for Help in Time of National Humiliation
A Maskil of Asaph.
1 O God, why do you cast us off forever?
Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?(W)
2 Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago,
which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage.
Remember Mount Zion, where you came to dwell.(X)
3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins;
the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary.(Y)
4 Your foes have roared within your holy place;
they set up their emblems there.(Z)
5 At the upper entrance they hacked
the wooden trellis with axes.[f](AA)
6 And then, with hatchets and hammers,
they smashed all its carved work.
7 They set your sanctuary on fire;
they desecrated the dwelling place of your name,
bringing it to the ground.(AB)
8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”;
they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.(AC)
9 We do not see our emblems;
there is no longer any prophet,
and there is no one among us who knows how long.(AD)
10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?
Is the enemy to revile your name forever?(AE)
11 Why do you hold back your hand;
why do you keep your hand in[g] your bosom?(AF)
12 Yet God my King is from of old,
working salvation in the earth.(AG)
13 You divided the sea by your might;
you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.(AH)
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan;
you gave him as food[h] for the creatures of the wilderness.
15 You cut openings for springs and torrents;
you dried up ever-flowing streams.(AI)
16 Yours is the day, yours also the night;
you established the luminaries[i] and the sun.(AJ)
17 You have fixed all the bounds of the earth;
you made summer and winter.(AK)
18 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs,
and an impious people reviles your name.(AL)
19 Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals;
do not forget the life of your poor forever.(AM)
20 Have regard for your[j] covenant,
for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence.(AN)
21 Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame;
let the poor and needy praise your name.(AO)
22 Rise up, O God, plead your cause;
remember how the impious scoff at you all day long.(AP)
23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes,
the uproar of your adversaries that goes up continually.(AQ)
Psalm 75
Thanksgiving for God’s Wondrous Deeds
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
1 We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks; your name is near.
People tell of your wondrous deeds.(AR)
2 At the set time that I appoint,
I will judge with equity.
3 When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants,
it is I who keep its pillars steady. Selah
4 I say to the boastful, “Do not boast,”
and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn;(AS)
5 do not lift up your horn on high
or speak with insolent neck.”(AT)
6 For not from the east or from the west
and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,(AU)
7 but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.(AV)
8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup
with foaming wine, well mixed;
he will pour a draught from it,
and all the wicked of the earth
shall drain it down to the dregs.(AW)
9 But I will rejoice[k] forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.(AX)
10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.(AY)
Psalm 76
Israel’s God—Judge of All the Earth
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
1 In Judah God is known;
his name is great in Israel.(AZ)
2 His abode has been established in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.(BA)
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah(BB)
4 Glorious are you, more majestic
than the everlasting mountains.[l]
5 The courageous were stripped of their spoil;
they sank into sleep;
none of the troops
was able to lift a hand.(BC)
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both rider and horse lay stunned.
7 But you indeed are awesome!
Who can stand before you
when your anger is roused?(BD)
8 From the heavens you uttered judgment;
the earth feared and was still(BE)
9 when God rose up to establish judgment,
to save all the oppressed of the earth. Selah(BF)
10 Human wrath serves only to praise you,
when you bind the last bit of your[m] wrath around you.(BG)
11 Make vows to the Lord your God and perform them;
let all who are around him bring gifts
to the one who is awesome,(BH)
12 who cuts off the spirit of princes,
who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.(BI)
Psalm 77
God’s Mighty Deeds Recalled
To the leader: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A Psalm.
1 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, that he may hear me.(BJ)
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.(BK)
3 I think of God, and I moan;
I meditate, and my spirit faints. Selah(BL)
4 You keep my eyelids from closing;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old
and remember the years of long ago.(BM)
6 I commune[n] with my heart in the night;
I meditate and search my spirit:[o](BN)
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever
and never again be favorable?(BO)
8 Has his steadfast love ceased forever?
Are his promises at an end for all time?(BP)
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah(BQ)
10 And I say, “It is my grief
that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”(BR)
11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;
I will remember your wonders of old.(BS)
12 I will meditate on all your work
and muse on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is so great as our God?(BT)
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have displayed your might among the peoples.
15 With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah(BU)
16 When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
the very deep trembled.(BV)
17 The clouds poured out water;
the skies thundered;
your arrows flashed on every side.(BW)
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.(BX)
19 Your way was through the sea,
your path through the mighty waters,
yet your footprints were unseen.(BY)
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.(BZ)
Footnotes
- 73.10 Cn: Heb his people return here
- 73.10 Cn: Heb abundant waters are drained by them
- 73.20 Cn: Heb Lord
- 73.24 Or to glory
- 73.26 Heb rock
- 74.5 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 74.11 Cn: Heb do you consume your right hand from
- 74.14 Heb food for the people
- 74.16 Or moon; Heb light
- 74.20 Gk Syr: Heb the
- 75.9 Gk: Heb declare
- 76.4 Gk: Heb the mountains of prey
- 76.10 Heb lacks your
- 77.6 Gk Syr: Heb My music
- 77.6 Syr Jerome: Heb my spirit searches
Psalm 73-77
New International Version
Psalm 73-77
New International Version
BOOK III
Psalms 73–89
Psalm 73
A psalm of Asaph.
1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.(A)
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;(B)
I had nearly lost my foothold.(C)
3 For I envied(D) the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(E)
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free(F) from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride(G) is their necklace;(H)
they clothe themselves with violence.(I)
7 From their callous hearts(J) comes iniquity[b];
their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;(K)
with arrogance(L) they threaten oppression.(M)
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”
13 Surely in vain(P) I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.(Q)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,(R)
and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand(S) all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary(T) of God;
then I understood their final destiny.(U)
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;(V)
you cast them down to ruin.(W)
19 How suddenly(X) are they destroyed,
completely swept away(Y) by terrors!
20 They are like a dream(Z) when one awakes;(AA)
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.(AB)
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless(AC) and ignorant;
I was a brute beast(AD) before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.(AE)
24 You guide(AF) me with your counsel,(AG)
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?(AH)
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.(AI)
26 My flesh and my heart(AJ) may fail,(AK)
but God is the strength(AL) of my heart
and my portion(AM) forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;(AN)
you destroy all who are unfaithful(AO) to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.(AP)
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;(AQ)
I will tell of all your deeds.(AR)
Psalm 74
A maskil[d] of Asaph.
1 O God, why have you rejected(AS) us forever?(AT)
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?(AU)
2 Remember the nation you purchased(AV) long ago,(AW)
the people of your inheritance,(AX) whom you redeemed(AY)—
Mount Zion,(AZ) where you dwelt.(BA)
3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,(BB)
all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4 Your foes roared(BC) in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standards(BD) as signs.
5 They behaved like men wielding axes
to cut through a thicket of trees.(BE)
6 They smashed all the carved(BF) paneling
with their axes and hatchets.
7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they defiled(BG) the dwelling place(BH) of your Name.(BI)
8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush(BJ) them completely!”
They burned(BK) every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9 We are given no signs from God;(BL)
no prophets(BM) are left,
and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long(BN) will the enemy mock(BO) you, God?
Will the foe revile(BP) your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?(BQ)
Take it from the folds of your garment(BR) and destroy them!
13 It was you who split open the sea(BU) by your power;
you broke the heads of the monster(BV) in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan(BW)
and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.(BX)
15 It was you who opened up springs(BY) and streams;
you dried up(BZ) the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.(CA)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries(CB) of the earth;
you made both summer and winter.(CC)
18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
how foolish people(CD) have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove(CE) to wild beasts;
do not forget the lives of your afflicted(CF) people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,(CG)
because haunts of violence fill the dark places(CH) of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed(CI) retreat in disgrace;
may the poor and needy(CJ) praise your name.
22 Rise up,(CK) O God, and defend your cause;
remember how fools(CL) mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor(CM) of your adversaries,(CN)
the uproar(CO) of your enemies,(CP) which rises continually.
Psalm 75[e]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;(CQ)
people tell of your wonderful deeds.(CR)
2 You say, “I choose the appointed time;(CS)
it is I who judge with equity.(CT)
3 When the earth and all its people quake,(CU)
it is I who hold its pillars(CV) firm.[f]
4 To the arrogant(CW) I say, ‘Boast no more,’(CX)
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.[g](CY)
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly.(CZ)’”
6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7 It is God who judges:(DA)
He brings one down, he exalts another.(DB)
8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed(DC) with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.(DD)
9 As for me, I will declare(DE) this forever;
I will sing(DF) praise to the God of Jacob,(DG)
10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”(DH)
Psalm 76[h]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 God is renowned in Judah;
in Israel his name is great.(DI)
2 His tent is in Salem,(DJ)
his dwelling place in Zion.(DK)
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,(DL)
the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[i](DM)
4 You are radiant with light,(DN)
more majestic than mountains rich with game.
5 The valiant(DO) lie plundered,
they sleep their last sleep;(DP)
not one of the warriors
can lift his hands.
6 At your rebuke,(DQ) God of Jacob,
both horse and chariot(DR) lie still.
7 It is you alone who are to be feared.(DS)
Who can stand(DT) before you when you are angry?(DU)
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and the land feared(DV) and was quiet—
9 when you, God, rose up to judge,(DW)
to save all the afflicted(DX) of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,(DY)
and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[j]
11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;(DZ)
let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts(EA) to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Psalm 77[k]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 I cried out to God(EB) for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress,(EC) I sought the Lord;
at night(ED) I stretched out untiring hands,(EE)
and I would not be comforted.(EF)
3 I remembered(EG) you, God, and I groaned;(EH)
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.[l](EI)
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.(EJ)
5 I thought about the former days,(EK)
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
7 “Will the Lord reject forever?(EL)
Will he never show his favor(EM) again?
8 Has his unfailing love(EN) vanished forever?
Has his promise(EO) failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?(EP)
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?(EQ)”
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.(ER)
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles(ES) of long ago.
12 I will consider(ET) all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”(EU)
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?(EV)
14 You are the God who performs miracles;(EW)
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,(EX)
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters(EY) saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;(EZ)
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,(FA)
the heavens resounded with thunder;(FB)
your arrows(FC) flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,(FD)
your lightning(FE) lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.(FF)
19 Your path(FG) led through the sea,(FH)
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
Footnotes
- Psalm 73:4 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text struggles at their death; / their bodies are healthy
- Psalm 73:7 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew Their eyes bulge with fat
- Psalm 73:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
- Psalm 74:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 75:1 In Hebrew texts 75:1-10 is numbered 75:2-11.
- Psalm 75:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 75:4 Horns here symbolize strength; also in verses 5 and 10.
- Psalm 76:1 In Hebrew texts 76:1-12 is numbered 76:2-13.
- Psalm 76:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 9.
- Psalm 76:10 Or Surely the wrath of mankind brings you praise, / and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself
- Psalm 77:1 In Hebrew texts 77:1-20 is numbered 77:2-21.
- Psalm 77:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 9 and 15.
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