Psalm 76^[a]

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

The Jews and the Law

¹⁷ Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;^{(A) 18} if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ¹⁹ if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?^{(B) 22} You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?^{(C) 23} You who boast in the law,^(D) do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴ As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”^[a](E)

²⁵ Circumcision has value if you observe the law,^(F) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.^{(G) 26} So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,^(H) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?^{(I) 27} The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you^(J) who, even though you have the^[b] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,^(K) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.^{(L) 29} No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,^(M) by the Spirit,^(N) not by the written code.^(O) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.^(P)

God’s Faithfulness

3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? ² Much in every way!^(Q) First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.^(R)

²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship^(A)—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

²⁹ Therefore I decree^(A) that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble,^(B) for no other god can save^(C) in this way.”