Known in Judah
For the director of music: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph, a song.
The battle is already over when the psalm begins. In Salem the arrows, shields and swords lie shattered, warriors sleep, horses lie stunned. The point is not Israel's skill but that our Father rose up to save the humble of the earth.
76 1Our Father is known in Judah; in Israel his name is great. 2His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. a a v2 Salem is an ancient name for Jerusalem — the city where our Father chose to make his home. 3There he shattered the flashing arrows, the shield and the sword and the weapons of war.
4Radiant you are, more majestic than the mountains of prey. 5The mightiest warriors were stripped of their plunder; they sank into their sleep; not one fighting man could lift his hands. 6At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both chariot and horse lay stunned. 7You, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when your anger is roused? 8From heaven you pronounced judgment; the earth was afraid and fell silent, 9when our Father rose up to judgment, to save all the humble of the earth.
10Surely human wrath will praise you, and you will clothe yourself with what remains of it. b b v10 Even human rage against God ends up bringing him glory — he wears their fury as a trophy. 11Make your vows to your Father and fulfill them; let all around him bring gifts to the one who is to be feared, 12who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is feared by the kings of the earth.
