Psalm 75–76

God the Judge^m

75 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks to you!

We proclaim how great you are

and tell ofⁿ the wonderful things you have done.

²“I have set a time for judgement,” says God,

“and I will judge with fairness.

³Though every living creature tremble

and the earth itself be shaken,

I will keep its foundations firm.

⁴I tell the wicked not to be arrogant;

⁵I tell them to stop their boasting.”

⁶Judgement does not come from the east or from the west,

from the north or from the south;^o

⁷it is God who is the judge,

condemning some and acquitting others.

⁸The Lord holds a cup in his hand,

filled with the strong wine of his anger.

He pours it out, and all the wicked drink it;

they drink it down to the last drop.

⁹But I will never stop speaking of the God of Jacob

or singing praises to him.

¹⁰He will break the power of the wicked,

but the power of the righteous will be increased.

God the Victor^p

76 God is known in Judah;

his name is honoured in Israel.

²He has his home in Jerusalem;

he lives on Mount Zion.

³There he broke the arrows of the enemy,

their shields and swords, yes, all their weapons.

⁴How glorious you are, O God!

How majestic, as you return from the mountains

where you defeated your foes.

⁵Their brave soldiers have been stripped of all they had

and now are sleeping the sleep of death;

all their strength and skill was useless.

⁶When you threatened them, O God of Jacob,

the horses and their riders fell dead.

⁷But you, Lord, are feared by all.

No one can stand in your presence when you are angry.

⁸You made your judgement known from heaven;

the world was afraid and kept silent,

⁹when you rose up to pronounce judgement,

to save all the oppressed on earth.

¹⁰Human anger only results in more praise for you;

those who survive the wars will keep your festivals.^q

¹¹Give the Lord your God what you promised him;

bring gifts to him, all you nearby nations.

God makes everyone fear him;

¹²he humbles proud princes

and terrifies great kings.