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Psalm 76

For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph. A song to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

God is honored in Judah;
    his name is great in Israel.
Jerusalem[a] is where he lives;
    Mount Zion is his home.
There he has broken the fiery arrows of the enemy,
    the shields and swords and weapons of war. Interlude

You are glorious and more majestic
    than the everlasting mountains.[b]
Our boldest enemies have been plundered.
    They lie before us in the sleep of death.
    No warrior could lift a hand against us.
At the blast of your breath, O God of Jacob,
    their horses and chariots lay still.

No wonder you are greatly feared!
    Who can stand before you when your anger explodes?
From heaven you sentenced your enemies;
    the earth trembled and stood silent before you.
You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God,
    and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Interlude
10 Human defiance only enhances your glory,
    for you use it as a weapon.[c]

11 Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them.
    Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One.
12 For he breaks the pride of princes,
    and the kings of the earth fear him.

Footnotes

  1. 76:2 Hebrew Salem, another name for Jerusalem.
  2. 76:4 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads than mountains filled with beasts of prey.
  3. 76:10 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

To the Director: With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.

The Awesome God

76 God is known in Judah;
    in Israel his reputation is great.
His abode is in Salem,[a]
    his dwelling place in Zion.
There he shattered sharp arrows,
    shields, swords, and weapons of[b] war.
Interlude

You are enveloped by light;
    more majestic than mountains filled with game.
Brave men were plundered
    while they slumbered in their sleep.
        All the men of the army were immobilized.
At the sound of your battle cry, God of Jacob,
    both horse and chariot rider fell into deep sleep.
You are awesome!
    who can stand in your presence when you’re angry?
From heaven you declared judgment.
    The earth stands in awe and is quiet
when God arose to execute justice
    and to deliver all the afflicted of the earth.
Interlude
10 Even human anger praises you;
    you will wear the survivors of your wrath as an ornament.[c]

11 Let everyone who surrounds the Lord your God
    make a vow and fulfill it to the Awesome One.[d]
12 He will humble the arrogant[e] commanders-in-chief,[f]
    instilling fear among the kings of the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 76:2 I.e. Jerusalem
  2. Psalm 76:3 The Heb. lacks weapons of
  3. Psalm 76:10 The Heb. lacks as an ornament
  4. Psalm 76:11 Or to the one whom they fear
  5. Psalm 76:12 Lit. the spirit of
  6. Psalm 76:12 Lit. Nagidim; i.e. senior officers entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority