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Psalm 76[a]

God Defends Zion

For the leader; a psalm with stringed instruments. A song of Asaph.

I

Renowned in Judah is God,(A)
    whose name is great in Israel.
On Salem[b] is God’s tent, his shelter on Zion.
    There the flashing arrows were shattered,
    shield, sword, and weapons of war.(B)
Selah

II

Terrible and awesome are you,
    stronger than the ancient mountains.[c]
Despoiled are the stouthearted;
    they sank into sleep;
    the hands of all the men of valor have failed.(C)
At your roar, O God of Jacob,
    chariot and steed lay still.
You, terrible are you;
    who can stand before you and your great anger?(D)
From the heavens you pronounced sentence;
    the earth was terrified and reduced to silence,
10 When you arose, O God, for judgment
    to save the afflicted of the land.
Selah
11 Surely the wrath of man will give you thanks;
    the remnant of your furor will keep your feast.

III

12 Make and keep vows to the Lord your God.(E)
    May all around him bring gifts to the one to be feared,
13 Who checks the spirit of princes,
    who is fearful to the kings of earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 76 A song glorifying Zion, the mountain of Jerusalem where God destroyed Israel’s enemies. Zion is thus the appropriate site to celebrate the victory (Ps 76:3–4), a victory described in parallel scenes (Ps 76:5–7, 8–11). Israel is invited to worship its powerful patron deity (Ps 76:12).
  2. 76:3 Salem: an ancient name for Jerusalem, used here perhaps on account of its allusion to the Hebrew word for peace, shalom, cf. Gn 14:18; Hb 7:1–3.
  3. 76:5 Ancient mountains: conjectural translation of a difficult Hebrew phrase on the basis of Gn 49:26. The mountains are part of the structure of the universe (Ps 89:12–13).

Psalm 76[a]

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

God is renowned in Judah;
    in Israel his name is great.(A)
His tent is in Salem,(B)
    his dwelling place in Zion.(C)
There he broke the flashing arrows,(D)
    the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[b](E)

You are radiant with light,(F)
    more majestic than mountains rich with game.
The valiant(G) lie plundered,
    they sleep their last sleep;(H)
not one of the warriors
    can lift his hands.
At your rebuke,(I) God of Jacob,
    both horse and chariot(J) lie still.

It is you alone who are to be feared.(K)
    Who can stand(L) before you when you are angry?(M)
From heaven you pronounced judgment,
    and the land feared(N) and was quiet—
when you, God, rose up to judge,(O)
    to save all the afflicted(P) of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,(Q)
    and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[c]

11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;(R)
    let all the neighboring lands
    bring gifts(S) to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
    he is feared by the kings of the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 76:1 In Hebrew texts 76:1-12 is numbered 76:2-13.
  2. Psalm 76:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 9.
  3. Psalm 76:10 Or Surely the wrath of mankind brings you praise, / and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself