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Praise to God for His Rescue of Israel

For the music director, with stringed instruments.

A psalm of Asaph. A song.[a]

76 God is known in Judah.
His name is great in Israel.
His den[b] has been in Salem,
his lair[c] in Zion.
There he broke the flames of the bow,
the shield and sword and battle. Selah
Radiant[d] you are, majestic,
from[e] the mountains of prey.
The stouthearted are plundered;
they sleep their sleep,
and all the able men cannot use[f] their hands.
At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both rider[g] and horse slumber.
You, indeed, are to be feared,[h]
and who can stand before you
when you are angry? [i]
From heaven you proclaimed judgment.
The earth feared and was still
when God rose for justice,
to save all the afflicted of the land. Selah
10 For the anger of humankind will praise you.
You will put on the remnant of anger.[j]
11 Make vows and fulfill them to Yahweh, your God;
let all surrounding him
bring tribute to the one to be feared.[k]
12 He cuts off the spirit of leaders.
He is to be feared by the kings of the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 76:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 76:2 Or “shelter”; but the image of the lion appears in view
  3. Psalm 76:2 Or “refuge”
  4. Psalm 76:4 A possible change in the Hebrew text yields, “You are feared, majestic …” a form found in vv. 8(7), 13(12). This is possibly reflected in the reading of Theodotian
  5. Psalm 76:4 Or “more than”
  6. Psalm 76:5 Literally “find”
  7. Psalm 76:6 Hebrew “chariot,” that is, charioteer
  8. Psalm 76:7 Literally “You, feared you are
  9. Psalm 76:7 A slight change in the vocalization of the MT yields, “from the strength of your anger”
  10. Psalm 76:10 Hebrew “angers”
  11. Psalm 76:11 Hebrew “to the fear”

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.