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(A song and a psalm by Asaph for the music leader. Use stringed instruments.)

God Always Wins

You, our God,
are famous in Judah
    and honored in Israel.
Your home is on Mount Zion,
    the city of peace.
There you destroyed
fiery arrows, shields, swords,
    and all the other weapons.

You are more glorious than
    the eternal mountains.[a]
Brave warriors were robbed
    of what they had taken,
and now they lie dead,
    unable to lift an arm.
God of Jacob, when you roar,
enemy chariots and horses
    drop dead in their tracks.

Our God, you are fearsome,
and no one can oppose you
    when you are angry.
From heaven you announced
    your decisions as judge!
And all who live on this earth
    were terrified and silent
when you took over as judge,
ready to rescue
    everyone in need.
10 Even the most angry people
will praise you
    when you are furious.[b]

11 Everyone, make your promises
to the Lord your God
    and do what you promise.
The Lord is fearsome,
and all his servants
    should bring him gifts.
12 God destroys the courage
of rulers and kings
    and makes cowards of them.

Footnotes

  1. 76.4 the eternal mountains: One ancient translation; Hebrew “the mountains of victims (of wild animals).”
  2. 76.10 furious: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 10.

76 In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.

In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.

Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.

The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.

At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,

When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

11 Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.