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Psalm 75[a]

God the Judge of the World

For the leader. Do not destroy! A psalm of Asaph; a song.

I

We thank you, God, we give thanks;
    we call upon your name,
    we declare your wonderful deeds.
[You said:][b]
“I will choose the time;
    I will judge fairly.
Though the earth and all its inhabitants quake,
    I make steady its pillars.”(A)
Selah

II

So I say to the boastful: “Do not boast!”(B)
    to the wicked: “Do not raise your horns![c]
Do not raise your horns against heaven!
    Do not speak with a stiff neck!”(C)
For judgment comes not from east or from west,
    not from the wilderness or the mountains,(D)
But from God who decides,
    who brings some low and raises others high.(E)
Yes, a cup[d] is in the Lord’s hand,
    foaming wine, fully spiced.
When God pours it out,
    they will drain it even to the dregs;
    all the wicked of the earth will drink.(F)
10 But I will rejoice forever;
    I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
11 (G)[Who has said:]
“I will cut off all the horns of the wicked,
    but the horns of the righteous will be exalted.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 75 The psalmist gives thanks and rejoices (Ps 75:2, 10) for the direct intervention of God, which is promised in two oracles (Ps 75:3–4, 11). Expecting that divine intervention, the psalmist warns evildoers to repent (Ps 75:5–9).
  2. 75:2 You said: supplied for clarity here and in Ps 75:11. The translation assumes in both places that the psalmist is citing an oracle of God.
  3. 75:5 Do not raise your horns!: the horn is the symbol of strength; to raise one’s horn is to exalt one’s own power as Ps 75:5 explains.
  4. 75:9 A cup: “the cup of God’s wrath” is the punishment inflicted on the wicked, cf. Is 51:17; Jer 25:15–29; 49:12; Eze 23:31–33. Spiced: lit., “a mixed drink”; spices or drugs were added to wine, cf. Prv 9:2, 5.

Thanksgiving for God’s Wondrous Deeds

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

75 We give thanks to thee, O God; we give thanks;
    we call on thy name and recount[a] thy wondrous deeds.

At the set time which I appoint
    I will judge with equity.
When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,
    it is I who keep steady its pillars.Selah
I say to the boastful, “Do not boast,”
    and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn;
do not lift up your horn on high,
    or speak with insolent neck.”

For not from the east or from the west
    and not from the wilderness comes lifting up;
but it is God who executes judgment,
    putting down one and lifting up another.
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup,
    with foaming wine, well mixed;
and he will pour a draught from it,
    and all the wicked of the earth
    shall drain it down to the dregs.

But I will rejoice[b] for ever,
    I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 All the horns of the wicked he[c] will cut off,
    but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 75:1 Syr Compare Gk: Heb and near is thy name. They recount
  2. Psalm 75:9 Gk: Heb declare
  3. Psalm 75:10 Heb I

God the Judge[a]

75 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks to you!
    We proclaim how great you are
    and tell of[b] the wonderful things you have done.

“I have set a time for judgment,” says God,
    “and I will judge with fairness.
Though every living creature tremble
    and the earth itself be shaken,
    I will keep its foundations firm.
I tell the wicked not to be arrogant;
    I tell them to stop their boasting.”

Judgment does not come from the east or from the west,
    from the north or from the south;[c]
it is God who is the judge,
    condemning some and acquitting others.
The Lord holds a cup in his hand,
    filled with the strong wine of his anger.
He pours it out, and all the wicked drink it;
    they drink it down to the last drop.

But I will never stop speaking of the God of Jacob
    or singing praises to him.
10 He will break the power of the wicked,
    but the power of the righteous will be increased.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 75:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by Asaph; a song.
  2. Psalm 75:1 Some ancient translations We proclaim how great you are and tell of; Hebrew Your name is near and they tell of.
  3. Psalm 75:6 Probable text from the north or from the south; Hebrew from the wilderness of the mountains.

God Humbles the Proud, but Exalts the Righteous.

For the music director; set to [a]Al-tashheth. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.

75 We (A)give thanks to You, God, we give thanks,
For Your name is (B)near;
People declare (C)Your wondrous works.
“When I select an (D)appointed time,
It is I who (E)judge fairly.
The (F)earth and all who inhabit it [b]are unsteady;
It is I who have firmly set its (G)pillars. Selah
I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
And to the wicked, ‘(H)Do not lift up the horn;
Do not lift up your horn on high,
(I)Do not speak with insolent [c]pride.’”

For not from the east, nor from the west,
Nor from the [d](J)desert comes exaltation;
But (K)God is the Judge;
He (L)puts down one and exalts another.
For a (M)cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams;
It is [e](N)well mixed, and He pours out of this;
Certainly all the wicked of the earth must drain and (O)drink its dregs.

But as for me, I will (P)declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 And [f]He will cut off all the (Q)horns of the wicked,
But (R)the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 75 Title Lit Do Not Destroy
  2. Psalm 75:3 Lit totter
  3. Psalm 75:5 Lit neck
  4. Psalm 75:6 Or mountainous desert
  5. Psalm 75:8 Lit full of mixture
  6. Psalm 75:10 Heb I

Psalm 75[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.

We praise you, God,
    we praise you, for your Name is near;(A)
    people tell of your wonderful deeds.(B)

You say, “I choose the appointed time;(C)
    it is I who judge with equity.(D)
When the earth and all its people quake,(E)
    it is I who hold its pillars(F) firm.[b]
To the arrogant(G) I say, ‘Boast no more,’(H)
    and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.[c](I)
Do not lift your horns against heaven;
    do not speak so defiantly.(J)’”

No one from the east or the west
    or from the desert can exalt themselves.
It is God who judges:(K)
    He brings one down, he exalts another.(L)
In the hand of the Lord is a cup
    full of foaming wine mixed(M) with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
    drink it down to its very dregs.(N)

As for me, I will declare(O) this forever;
    I will sing(P) praise to the God of Jacob,(Q)
10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
    but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”(R)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 75:1 In Hebrew texts 75:1-10 is numbered 75:2-11.
  2. Psalm 75:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 75:4 Horns here symbolize strength; also in verses 5 and 10.