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73 A Psalm of Asaph. Only -- good to Israel [is] God, to the clean of heart. And I -- as a little thing, My feet have been turned aside,

As nothing, have my steps slipped, For I have been envious of the boastful,

The peace of the wicked I see, That there are no bands at their death,

And their might [is] firm.

In the misery of mortals they are not, And with common men they are not plagued.

Therefore hath pride encircled them, Violence covereth them as a dress.

Their eye hath come out from fat. The imaginations of the heart transgressed;

They do corruptly, And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, From on high they speak.

They have set in the heavens their mouth, And their tongue walketh in the earth.

10 Therefore do His people return hither, And waters of fulness are wrung out to them.

11 And they have said, `How hath God known? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'

12 Lo, these [are] the wicked and easy ones of the age, They have increased strength.

13 Only -- a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands,

14 And I am plagued all the day, And my reproof [is] every morning.

15 If I have said, `I recount thus,' Lo, a generation of Thy sons I have deceived.

16 And I think to know this, Perverseness it [is] in mine eyes,

17 Till I come in to the sanctuaries of God, I attend to their latter end.

18 Only, in slippery places Thou dost set them, Thou hast caused them to fall to desolations.

19 How have they become a desolation as in a moment, They have been ended -- consumed from terrors.

20 As a dream from awakening, O Lord, In awaking, their image Thou despisest.

21 For my heart doth show itself violent, And my reins prick themselves,

22 And I am brutish, and do not know. A beast I have been with Thee.

23 And I [am] continually with Thee, Thou hast laid hold on my right hand.

24 With Thy counsel Thou dost lead me, And after honour dost receive me.

25 Whom have I in the heavens? And with Thee none I have desired in earth.

26 Consumed hath been my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart and my portion [is] God to the age.

27 For, lo, those far from Thee do perish, Thou hast cut off every one, Who is going a whoring from Thee.

28 And I -- nearness of God to me [is] good, I have placed in the Lord Jehovah my refuge, To recount all Thy works!

74 An Instruction of Asaph. Why, O God, hast Thou cast off for ever? Thine anger smoketh against the flock of Thy pasture.

Remember Thy company. Thou didst purchase of old, Thou didst redeem the rod of Thy inheritance, This mount Zion -- Thou didst dwell in it.

Lift up Thy steps to the perpetual desolations, Everything the enemy did wickedly in the sanctuary.

Roared have thine adversaries, In the midst of Thy meeting-places, They have set their ensigns as ensigns.

He is known as one bringing in on high Against a thicket of wood -- axes.

And now, its carvings together With axe and hatchet they break down,

They have sent into fire Thy sanctuary, to the earth they polluted the tabernacle of Thy name,

They said in their hearts, `Let us oppress them together,' They did burn all the meeting-places of God in the land.

Our ensigns we have not seen, There is no more a prophet, Nor with us is one knowing how long.

10 Till when, O God, doth an adversary reproach? Doth an enemy despise thy name for ever?

11 Why dost Thou turn back Thy hand, Even Thy right hand? From the midst of Thy bosom remove [it].

12 And God [is] my king of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 Thou hast broken by Thy strength a sea-[monster], Thou hast shivered Heads of dragons by the waters,

14 Thou hast broken the heads of leviathan, Thou makest him food, For the people of the dry places.

15 Thou hast cleaved a fountain and a stream, Thou hast dried up perennial flowings.

16 Thine [is] the day, also Thine [is] the night, Thou hast prepared a light giver -- the sun.

17 Thou hast set up all the borders of earth, Summer and winter Thou hast formed them.

18 Remember this -- an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy name.

19 Give not up to a company, The soul of Thy turtle-dove, The company of Thy poor ones forget not for ever.

20 Look attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence.

21 Let not the oppressed turn back ashamed, Let the poor and needy praise Thy name,

22 Arise, O God, plead Thy plea, Remember Thy reproach from a fool all the day.

23 Forget not the voice of Thine adversaries, The noise of Thy withstanders is going up continually!

75 To the Overseer. -- `Destroy not.' -- A Psalm of Asaph. -- A Song. We have given thanks to Thee, O God, We have given thanks, and near [is] Thy name, They have recounted Thy wonders.

When I receive an appointment, I -- I do judge uprightly.

Melted is the earth and all its inhabitants, I -- I have pondered its pillars. Selah.

I have said to the boastful, `Be not boastful,' And to the wicked, `Raise not up a horn.'

Raise not up on high your horn, (Ye speak with a stiff neck.)

For not from the east, or from the west, Nor from the wilderness -- [is] elevation.

But God [is] judge, This He maketh low -- and this He lifteth up.

For a cup [is] in the hand of Jehovah, And the wine hath foamed, It is full of mixture, and He poureth out of it, Only its dregs wring out, and drink, Do all the wicked of the earth,

And I -- I declare [it] to the age, I sing praise to the God of Jacob.

10 And all horns of the wicked I cut off, Exalted are the horns of the righteous!

76 To the Overseer with stringed instruments. -- A Psalm of Asaph. -- A Song. In Judah [is] God known, in Israel His name [is] great.

And His tabernacle is in Salem, And His habitation in Zion.

There he hath shivered arrows of a bow, Shield, and sword, and battle. Selah.

Bright [art] Thou, honourable above hills of prey.

Spoiled themselves have the mighty of heart, They have slept their sleep, And none of the men of might found their hands.

From Thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse have been fast asleep.

Thou, fearful [art] Thou, And who doth stand before Thee, Since Thou hast been angry!

From heaven Thou hast sounded judgment, Earth hath feared, and hath been still,

In the rising of God to judgment, To save all the humble of earth. Selah.

10 For the fierceness of man praiseth Thee, The remnant of fierceness Thou girdest on.

11 Vow and complete to Jehovah your God, All ye surrounding him. They bring presents to the Fearful One.

12 He doth gather the spirit of leaders, Fearful to the kings of earth!

77 To the Overseer, for Jeduthun. -- A Psalm of Asaph. My voice [is] to God, and I cry, my voice [is] to God, And He hath given ear unto me.

In a day of my distress the Lord I sought, My hand by night hath been spread out, And it doth not cease, My soul hath refused to be comforted.

I remember God, and make a noise, I meditate, and feeble is my spirit. Selah.

Thou hast taken hold of the watches of mine eyes, I have been moved, and I speak not.

I have reckoned the days of old, The years of the ages.

I remember my music in the night, With my heart I meditate, and my spirit doth search diligently:

To the ages doth the Lord cast off? Doth He add to be pleased no more?

Hath His kindness ceased for ever? The saying failed to all generations?

Hath God forgotten [His] favours? Hath He shut up in anger His mercies? Selah.

10 And I say: `My weakness is, The changes of the right hand of the Most High.'

11 I mention the doings of Jah, For I remember of old Thy wonders,

12 And I have meditated on all Thy working, And I talk concerning Thy doings.

13 O God, in holiness [is] Thy way, Who [is] a great god like God?

14 Thou [art] the God doing wonders. Thou hast made known among the peoples Thy strength,

15 Thou hast redeemed with strength Thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

16 The waters have seen Thee, O God, The waters have seen Thee, They are afraid -- also depths are troubled.

17 Poured out waters have thick clouds, The skies have given forth a noise, Also -- Thine arrows go up and down.

18 The voice of Thy thunder [is] in the spheres, Lightnings have lightened the world, The earth hath trembled, yea, it shaketh.

19 In the sea [is] Thy way, And Thy paths [are] in many waters, And Thy tracks have not been known.

20 Thou hast led as a flock Thy people, By the hand of Moses and Aaron!

BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

Surely God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.(A)

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;(B)
    I had nearly lost my foothold.(C)
For I envied(D) the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(E)

They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
They are free(F) from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride(G) is their necklace;(H)
    they clothe themselves with violence.(I)
From their callous hearts(J) comes iniquity[b];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;(K)
    with arrogance(L) they threaten oppression.(M)
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

12 This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care,(N) they go on amassing wealth.(O)

13 Surely in vain(P) I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.(Q)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,(R)
    and every morning brings new punishments.

15 If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand(S) all this,
    it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary(T) of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.(U)

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;(V)
    you cast them down to ruin.(W)
19 How suddenly(X) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away(Y) by terrors!
20 They are like a dream(Z) when one awakes;(AA)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.(AB)

21 When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless(AC) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast(AD) before you.

23 Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.(AE)
24 You guide(AF) me with your counsel,(AG)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?(AH)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.(AI)
26 My flesh and my heart(AJ) may fail,(AK)
    but God is the strength(AL) of my heart
    and my portion(AM) forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;(AN)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful(AO) to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.(AP)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;(AQ)
    I will tell of all your deeds.(AR)

Psalm 74

A maskil[d] of Asaph.

O God, why have you rejected(AS) us forever?(AT)
    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?(AU)
Remember the nation you purchased(AV) long ago,(AW)
    the people of your inheritance,(AX) whom you redeemed(AY)
    Mount Zion,(AZ) where you dwelt.(BA)
Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,(BB)
    all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

Your foes roared(BC) in the place where you met with us;
    they set up their standards(BD) as signs.
They behaved like men wielding axes
    to cut through a thicket of trees.(BE)
They smashed all the carved(BF) paneling
    with their axes and hatchets.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
    they defiled(BG) the dwelling place(BH) of your Name.(BI)
They said in their hearts, “We will crush(BJ) them completely!”
    They burned(BK) every place where God was worshiped in the land.

We are given no signs from God;(BL)
    no prophets(BM) are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long(BN) will the enemy mock(BO) you, God?
    Will the foe revile(BP) your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?(BQ)
    Take it from the folds of your garment(BR) and destroy them!

12 But God is my King(BS) from long ago;
    he brings salvation(BT) on the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea(BU) by your power;
    you broke the heads of the monster(BV) in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan(BW)
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.(BX)
15 It was you who opened up springs(BY) and streams;
    you dried up(BZ) the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.(CA)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries(CB) of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter.(CC)

18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
    how foolish people(CD) have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove(CE) to wild beasts;
    do not forget the lives of your afflicted(CF) people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,(CG)
    because haunts of violence fill the dark places(CH) of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed(CI) retreat in disgrace;
    may the poor and needy(CJ) praise your name.
22 Rise up,(CK) O God, and defend your cause;
    remember how fools(CL) mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor(CM) of your adversaries,(CN)
    the uproar(CO) of your enemies,(CP) which rises continually.

Psalm 75[e]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.

We praise you, God,
    we praise you, for your Name is near;(CQ)
    people tell of your wonderful deeds.(CR)

You say, “I choose the appointed time;(CS)
    it is I who judge with equity.(CT)
When the earth and all its people quake,(CU)
    it is I who hold its pillars(CV) firm.[f]
To the arrogant(CW) I say, ‘Boast no more,’(CX)
    and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.[g](CY)
Do not lift your horns against heaven;
    do not speak so defiantly.(CZ)’”

No one from the east or the west
    or from the desert can exalt themselves.
It is God who judges:(DA)
    He brings one down, he exalts another.(DB)
In the hand of the Lord is a cup
    full of foaming wine mixed(DC) with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
    drink it down to its very dregs.(DD)

As for me, I will declare(DE) this forever;
    I will sing(DF) praise to the God of Jacob,(DG)
10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
    but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”(DH)

Psalm 76[h]

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.(DI)
His tent is in Salem,(DJ)
    his dwelling place in Zion.(DK)
There he broke the flashing arrows,(DL)
    the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[i](DM)

You are radiant with light,(DN)
    more majestic than mountains rich with game.
The valiant(DO) lie plundered,
    they sleep their last sleep;(DP)
not one of the warriors
    can lift his hands.
At your rebuke,(DQ) God of Jacob,
    both horse and chariot(DR) lie still.

It is you alone who are to be feared.(DS)
    Who can stand(DT) before you when you are angry?(DU)
From heaven you pronounced judgment,
    and the land feared(DV) and was quiet—
when you, God, rose up to judge,(DW)
    to save all the afflicted(DX) of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,(DY)
    and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[j]

11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;(DZ)
    let all the neighboring lands
    bring gifts(EA) to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
    he is feared by the kings of the earth.

Psalm 77[k]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

I cried out to God(EB) for help;
    I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress,(EC) I sought the Lord;
    at night(ED) I stretched out untiring hands,(EE)
    and I would not be comforted.(EF)

I remembered(EG) you, God, and I groaned;(EH)
    I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.[l](EI)
You kept my eyes from closing;
    I was too troubled to speak.(EJ)
I thought about the former days,(EK)
    the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
    My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

“Will the Lord reject forever?(EL)
    Will he never show his favor(EM) again?
Has his unfailing love(EN) vanished forever?
    Has his promise(EO) failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?(EP)
    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?(EQ)

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
    the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.(ER)
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles(ES) of long ago.
12 I will consider(ET) all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”(EU)

13 Your ways, God, are holy.
    What god is as great as our God?(EV)
14 You are the God who performs miracles;(EW)
    you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,(EX)
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16 The waters(EY) saw you, God,
    the waters saw you and writhed;(EZ)
    the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,(FA)
    the heavens resounded with thunder;(FB)
    your arrows(FC) flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,(FD)
    your lightning(FE) lit up the world;
    the earth trembled and quaked.(FF)
19 Your path(FG) led through the sea,(FH)
    your way through the mighty waters,
    though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people(FI) like a flock(FJ)
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.(FK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:4 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text struggles at their death; / their bodies are healthy
  2. Psalm 73:7 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew Their eyes bulge with fat
  3. Psalm 73:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  4. Psalm 74:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  5. Psalm 75:1 In Hebrew texts 75:1-10 is numbered 75:2-11.
  6. Psalm 75:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  7. Psalm 75:4 Horns here symbolize strength; also in verses 5 and 10.
  8. Psalm 76:1 In Hebrew texts 76:1-12 is numbered 76:2-13.
  9. Psalm 76:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 9.
  10. Psalm 76:10 Or Surely the wrath of mankind brings you praise, / and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself
  11. Psalm 77:1 In Hebrew texts 77:1-20 is numbered 77:2-21.
  12. Psalm 77:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 9 and 15.