Psalm 76

God, the Powerful Judge

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph.(A) A song.

God is known in Judah;
his name is great in Israel.(B)
His tent is in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.(C)
There he shatters the bow’s flaming arrows,
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war.(D)Selah

You are resplendent and majestic
coming down from the mountains of prey.(E)
The brave-hearted have been plundered;
they have slipped into their final sleep.
None of the warriors was able to lift a hand.(F)
At your rebuke, God of Jacob,
both chariot and horse lay still.(G)

And you—you are to be feared.[a]
When you are angry,
who can stand before you?(H)
From heaven you pronounced judgment.
The earth feared and grew quiet(I)
when God rose up to judge
and to save all the lowly of the earth.(J)Selah
10 Even human wrath will praise you;
you will clothe yourself
with the wrath that remains.[b](K)

11 Make and keep your vows
to the Lord your God;(L)
let all who are around him bring tribute
to the awe-inspiring one.[c](M)
12 He humbles the spirit of leaders;
he is feared by the kings of the earth.(N)

Footnotes

  1. 76:7 Or are awe-inspiring
  2. 76:10 Hb obscure
  3. 76:11 Or tribute with awe

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