Psalms

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PSALM 76^*

God Defends Zion

1For the leader; a psalm with stringed instruments. A song of Asaph.

I

2Renowned in Judah is God,^a

whose name is great in Israel.

3On Salem^* is God’s tent, his shelter on Zion.

4There the flashing arrows were shattered,

shield, sword, and weapons of war.^b

Selah

II

5Terrible and awesome are you,

stronger than the ancient mountains.^*

6Despoiled are the stouthearted;

they sank into sleep;

the hands of all the men of valor have failed.^c

7At your roar, O God of Jacob,

chariot and steed lay still.

8You, terrible are you;

who can stand before you and your great anger?^d

9From the heavens you pronounced sentence;

the earth was terrified and reduced to silence,

10When you arose, O God, for judgment

to save the afflicted of the land.

Selah

11Surely the wrath of man will give you thanks;

the remnant of your furor will keep your feast.

III

12Make and keep vows to the LORD your God.^e

May all around him bring gifts to the one to be feared,

13Who checks the spirit of princes,

who is fearful to the kings of earth.

* [Psalm 76] A song glorifying Zion, the mountain of Jerusalem where God destroyed Israel’s enemies. Zion is thus the appropriate site to celebrate the victory (Ps 76:3–4), a victory described in parallel scenes (Ps 76:5–7, 8–11). Israel is invited to worship its powerful patron deity (Ps 76:12).

* [76:3] Salem: an ancient name for Jerusalem, used here perhaps on account of its allusion to the Hebrew word for peace, shalom, cf. Gn 14:18; Heb 7:1–3.

* [76:5] Ancient mountains: conjectural translation of a difficult Hebrew phrase on the basis of Gn 49:26. The mountains are part of the structure of the universe (Ps 89:12–13).

a. [76:2] Heb 3:2.

b. [76:4] Ps 46:10; 122:6–9.

c. [76:6] 2 Kgs 19:35; Jer 51:39; Na 3:18.

d. [76:8] Dt 7:21; 1 Sm 6:20; Na 1:6; Mal 3:2.

e. [76:12] Nm 30:3.