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.

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.

75 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.

The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.

I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.