Psalms

PSALM 75*

God the Judge of the World

1For the leader. Do not destroy! A psalm of Asaph; a song.

I

2We thank you, God, we give thanks;

we call upon your name,

we declare your wonderful deeds.

[You said:]*

3“I will choose the time;

I will judge fairly.

4Though the earth and all its inhabitants quake,

I make steady its pillars.”a

Selah

II

5So I say to the boastful: “Do not boast!”b

to the wicked: “Do not raise your horns!*

6Do not raise your horns against heaven!

Do not speak with a stiff neck!”c

7For judgment comes not from east or from west,

not from the wilderness or the mountains,d

8But from God who decides,

who brings some low and raises others high.e

9Yes, a cup* is in the LORD’s hand,

foaming wine, fully spiced.*

When God pours it out,

they will drain it even to the dregs;

all the wicked of the earth will drink.f

10But I will rejoice forever;

I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,

11g[Who has said:]

“I will cut off all the horns of the wicked,

but the horns of the righteous will be exalted.”

* [Psalm 75] The psalmist gives thanks and rejoices (Ps 75:2, 10) for the direct intervention of God, which is promised in two oracles (Ps 75:34, 11). Expecting that divine intervention, the psalmist warns evildoers to repent (Ps 75:59).

* [75:2] You said: supplied for clarity here and in Ps 75:11. The translation assumes in both places that the psalmist is citing an oracle of God.

* [75:5] Do not raise your horns!: the horn is the symbol of strength; to raise one’s horn is to exalt one’s own power as Ps 75:5 explains.

* [75:9] A cup: “the cup of God’s wrath” is the punishment inflicted on the wicked, cf. Is 51:17; Jer 25:1529; 49:12; Ez 23:3133. Spiced: lit., “a mixed drink”; spices or drugs were added to wine, cf. Prv 9:2, 5.

a. [75:4] Ps 46:3; 60:4; 93:1; 96:10; 104:5; 1 Sm 2:8; Is 24:19.

b. [75:5] 1 Sm 2:3; Zec 2:14.

c. [75:6] Jb 15:25.

d. [75:7] Mt 24:2327.

e. [75:8] Jb 5:11; 1 Sm 2:7.

f. [75:9] Ps 60:5; Jb 21:20; Is 51:17, 2122; Jer 25:15ff; Hab 2:16.

g. [75:11] Ps 92:11.

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