Psalm 73:1-78:1

BOOK III Psalm 73 1A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.

3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text struggles at their death; / their bodies are healthy

5They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.

6Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.

7From their callous hearts comes iniquity Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew Their eyes bulge with fat ; their evil imaginations have no limits.

8They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

11They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”

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

13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.

14All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.

15If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.

16When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply

17till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

18Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.

19How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

20They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

21When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,

22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

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

Psalm 74 1A maskil Title: Probably a literary or musical term of Asaph. O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?

2Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed— Mount Zion, where you dwelt.

3Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

4Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.

5They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.

6They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.

7They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.

8They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.

9We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.

10How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?

11Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!

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

13It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.

14It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.

15It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.

16The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.

17It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.

18Remember how the enemy has mocked you, LORD, how foolish people have reviled your name.

19Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.

20Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.

21Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.

22Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. 23Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.

Psalm 75In Hebrew texts 75:1-10 is numbered 75:2-11. 1For 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; people tell of your wonderful deeds.

2You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity.

3When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

4To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns. Horns here symbolize strength; also in verses 5 and 10.

5Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’ ”

6No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves.

7It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.

8In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.

9As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob, 10who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

Psalm 76In Hebrew texts 76:1-12 is numbered 76:2-13. 1For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song. God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great.

2His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.

3There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war. The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 9.

4You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.

5The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.

6At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.

7It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?

8From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—

9when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land.

10Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained. Or Surely the wrath of mankind brings you praise, / and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself

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

Psalm 77In Hebrew texts 77:1-20 is numbered 77:2-21. 1For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm. I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.

2When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

3I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 9 and 15.

4You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.

5I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;

6I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?

8Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?

9Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

10Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

11I will remember the deeds of the LORD ; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

12I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

13Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?

14You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

15With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.

17The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.

18Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

19Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. 20You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 78 1A maskil Title: Probably a literary or musical term of Asaph. My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.