Psalms 76:1-3

Psalm 76 ¹ 

For the music director; to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of Asaph, a song.

76:1 God has revealed himself in Judah; ² 

in Israel his reputation ³  is great.

76:2 He lives in Salem; ⁴ 

he dwells in Zion. ⁵ 

76:3 There he shattered the arrows, ⁶ 

the shield, the sword, and the rest of the weapons of war. ⁷  (Selah)

[76:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 76. The psalmist depicts God as a mighty warrior who destroys Israel’s enemies.

[76:1]  ² tn Or “God is known in Judah.”

[76:1]  ³ tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.

[76:2]  ⁴ sn Salem is a shorter name for Jerusalem (see Gen 14:18).

[76:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “and his place of refuge is in Salem, and his lair in Zion.” God may be likened here to a lion (see v. 4).

[76:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “flames of the bow,” i.e., arrows.

[76:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “shield and sword and battle.” “Battle” probably here stands by metonymy for the weapons of war in general.