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To the Director: With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.

The Awesome God

76 God is known in Judah;
    in Israel his reputation is great.
His abode is in Salem,[a]
    his dwelling place in Zion.
There he shattered sharp arrows,
    shields, swords, and weapons of[b] war.
Interlude

You are enveloped by light;
    more majestic than mountains filled with game.
Brave men were plundered
    while they slumbered in their sleep.
        All the men of the army were immobilized.
At the sound of your battle cry, God of Jacob,
    both horse and chariot rider fell into deep sleep.
You are awesome!
    who can stand in your presence when you’re angry?
From heaven you declared judgment.
    The earth stands in awe and is quiet
when God arose to execute justice
    and to deliver all the afflicted of the earth.
Interlude
10 Even human anger praises you;
    you will wear the survivors of your wrath as an ornament.[c]

11 Let everyone who surrounds the Lord your God
    make a vow and fulfill it to the Awesome One.[d]
12 He will humble the arrogant[e] commanders-in-chief,[f]
    instilling fear among the kings of the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 76:2 I.e. Jerusalem
  2. Psalm 76:3 The Heb. lacks weapons of
  3. Psalm 76:10 The Heb. lacks as an ornament
  4. Psalm 76:11 Or to the one whom they fear
  5. Psalm 76:12 Lit. the spirit of
  6. Psalm 76:12 Lit. Nagidim; i.e. senior officers entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority

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