Psalm 149
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 149[a]
Glorification of God, Lord and Creator
1 [b]Alleluia.
Sing to the Lord a new song,[c]
his praise in the assembly of the saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise his name[d] with dancing
and make music to him with tambourine and lyre.
4 For the Lord takes delight in his people,
and he crowns the humble with salvation.[e]
5 Let the saints exult in their glory
and sing for joy on their beds.[f]
6 [g]May the praises of God be on their lips
and a double-edged sword in their hands[h]
7 to wreak vengeance[i] on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8 to shackle their kings with chains
and their nobles with iron fetters,
9 to execute the judgments decreed against them:
such is the glory for all his saints.[j]
Alleluia.
Footnotes
- Psalm 149:1 The spiritual elite of God’s people rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, weapons at the ready (see Neh 4:11); they put up an unyielding resistance to the persecution of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (see 1 Mac; 2 Mac). They were conscious of defending the rights of God and the right to worship him. This was their glory: Israel was the sword of God against the advance of blasphemous and wicked forces (see Zec 9:13-16). But the images of war foretell victories, those of God’s elect over the forces of evil at the time of the Messiah. The seer of the Book of Revelation will also describe great battles in heaven (see Rev 11:14).
We can pray this psalm for the Church, the new People of God, enduring in this world an ever-difficult existence, an ever-renascent war. She scores blows and gains victories against her spiritual enemies, but never decisive ones. Happily, it is Christ who leads her and animates her in battle in order to ensure victory for her and renew her fervor (see Mt 16:18; 28:20). - Psalm 149:1 The psalmist calls on the people to sing a new song in view of the restoration and the eschatological expectation of the Lord’s complete victory over evil (see Isa 61:2ff; Rev 14:3). The object of praise is the Maker and King of his people, and the devout among them are the beneficiaries of his mighty acts.
- Psalm 149:1 New song: see note on Ps 33:3. Saints: see notes on Pss 4:3; 34:10.
- Psalm 149:3 Name: see note on Ps 5:12. Dancing: which formed part of the liturgy (see Pss 87:7; 150:4; Ex 15:20; 2 Sam 6:14; Jer 31:4).
- Psalm 149:4 See Ps 73:1; 1 Sam 2:8; Isa 49:13; 61:9; 62:4f.
- Psalm 149:5 Beds: the beds, which had before been soaked with tears, share in the Lord’s deliverance (see Pss 4:5; 6:7; 63:7; Hos 7:14). Some take “beds” as “couches” used in worship or at banquets.
- Psalm 149:6 The psalmist envisages the eschatological future (see Isa 61:2ff) and presents God’s people as the instruments of the divine vindication (see Zec 9:13-16). The Lord will grant victory to his people, as he did to Nehemiah and his men (see Neh 4:10-12), which will be their glory.
- Psalm 149:6 The godly will become the sword of the Lord (see Jdg 3:16; Prov 5:4; Zec 9:13). Some interpret this verse as saying that the praise of God is a fearsome but peaceful weapon in the hands of the godly (see 2 Chr 20:17ff).
- Psalm 149:7 Vengeance: see notes on Pss 5:11; 35. The new People of God depends on the “sword of the Spirit” to combat the powers of evil (see 2 Cor 6:7; 10:4; Eph 6:12, 17; Heb 4:12) and will obtain complete victory only at the Last Judgment (see 1 Cor 6:2f).
- Psalm 149:9 Allusion to the prophecies against the nations, announcing their final defeat by Israel (see Ps 139:16 and note; Ezek 25:14; 39:10; Joel 4:2; Mic 4:13; Zec 10:5; 12:6; 14:3, 12ff).
