Psalms 75:1-3

Psalm 75 ¹ 

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; ²  a psalm of Asaph; a song.

75:1 We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks!

You reveal your presence; ³ 

people tell about your amazing deeds.

75:2 God says, ⁴ 

“At the appointed times, ⁵ 

I judge ⁶  fairly.

75:3 When the earth and all its inhabitants dissolve in fear, ⁷ 

I make its pillars secure.” ⁸  (Selah)

[75:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 75. The psalmist celebrates God’s just rule, which guarantees that the godly will be vindicated and the wicked destroyed.

[75:1]  ² tn Heb “do not destroy.” Perhaps this refers to a particular style of music, a tune title, or a musical instrument. These words also appear in the superscription to Pss 57-59.

[75:1]  ³ tn Heb “and near [is] your name.”

[75:2]  ⁴ tn The words “God says” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation to clarify that God speaks in vv. 2-3.

[75:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “when I take an appointed time.”

[75:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “I, [in] fairness, I judge.” The statement is understood in a generalizing sense; God typically executes fair judgment as he governs the world. One could take this as referring to an anticipated (future) judgment, “I will judge.”

[75:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “melt.”

[75:3]  ⁸ tn The statement is understood in a generalizing sense; God typically prevents the world from being overrun by chaos. One could take this as referring to an anticipated event, “I will make its pillars secure.”