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The God Who Always Wins

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12]. A song.

76 ·People in Judah know God [L God is known in Judah];
    his ·fame [name] is great in Israel.
His Tent is in ·Jerusalem [L Salem; C shortened name of Jerusalem];
    his ·home [abode] is on Mount Zion [Ps. 48].
There God broke the flaming arrows,
    the shields, the swords, and the weapons of war. ·Selah [Interlude]

God, how ·wonderful [glorious; awesome; or radiant] you are!
    You are more ·splendid [majestic] than the ·hills full of animals [hills full of prey; or everlasting mountains].
The ·brave soldiers [L strong of heart] were ·stripped [plundered]
    as they ·lay asleep in death [sleep their last sleep].
Not one ·warrior [valiant person]
    ·had the strength to stop it [L could lift their hand].
God of Jacob, ·when you spoke strongly [L at your rebuke/reprimand],
    horses and riders ·fell dead [L were in deep sleep; or lay stupefied].
You are ·feared [awesome];
    ·no one [L who…?] can stand against you when you are angry.
From heaven you ·gave the decision [made your judgment heard],
    and the earth was afraid and silent.
God, you ·stood [rose] up to judge
    and to ·save [give victory to] the needy people of the earth. ·Selah [Interlude]
10 ·People praise you for your anger against evil [or Human anger praises you].
    ·Those who live through your anger are stopped from doing more evil [Those who survive your wrath are restrained; L You gird the remains of wrath on you].

11 Make and keep your ·promises [vows] to the Lord your God.
    From all around, gifts should come to the God ·we worship [L who is awesome].
12 God ·breaks [cuts off] the spirits of ·great leaders [princes];
    the kings on earth fear him.

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