Psalm 75–76

Psalm 75

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

¹God, we give thanks to you.

We give thanks because your Name is near.

People talk about the wonderful things you have done.

²You say, “I choose the appointed time to judge people.

And I judge them fairly.

³When the earth and all of its people tremble,

I keep everything from falling to pieces. Selah

⁴To the proud I say, ‘Don’t brag anymore.’

To sinners I say, ‘Don’t show off your power.

⁵Don’t show it off against me.

Don’t speak with your noses in the air.’ ”

⁶No one from east or west or north or south

can act as judge.

⁷God is the One who judges.

He says to one person, “You are guilty.”

To another he says, “You are not guilty.”

⁸In the hand of the Lord is a cup.

It is full of wine mixed with spices.

It is the wine of his anger.

He pours it out. All of the evil people on earth

drink it down to the very last drop.

⁹I will speak about this forever.

I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.

¹⁰God will destroy the power of all sinful people.

But he will make godly people more powerful.

Psalm 76

For the director of music. A psalm of Asaph. A song to be played on stringed instruments.

¹In the land of Judah, God is known.

His name is great in Israel.

²His tent is in Jerusalem.

The place where he lives is on Mount Zion.

³There he broke the deadly arrows of his enemies.

He broke their shields and swords.

He broke their weapons of war. Selah

⁴God, you shine like a very bright light.

You are more majestic than mountains full of wild animals.

⁵Brave soldiers have been robbed of everything they had.

Now they lie there, sleeping in death.

Not one of them can even lift his hands.

⁶God of Jacob, at your command

both horse and chariot lie still.

⁷People should have respect for you alone.

Who can stand in front of you when you are angry?

⁸From heaven you handed down your sentence.

The land was afraid and became quiet.

⁹God, that happened when you rose up to judge.

It happened when you came to save all of your suffering people in the land. Selah

¹⁰Your anger against sinners brings you praise.

Those who live through your anger gather to worship you.

¹¹Make promises to the Lord your God and keep them.

Let all of the neighboring nations

bring gifts to the One who should be respected.

¹²He breaks the proud spirit of rulers.

The kings of the earth have respect for him.