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Psalms 75

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Thanksgiving and God's Righteous Judgment 1–3

1
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. ​
2
When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. ​
3
The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. ​

Warning Against Arrogant Boasting 4–8

4
I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
5
Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. ​
6
For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7
But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. ​
8
For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. ​

The Triumph of the Righteous 9–10

9
But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. ​
10
All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalms 75

Verse 1

Altaschith — Al-tashchet, 'Destroy not', stands over Pss 57, 58, 59 and 75, and nowhere else. The psalm opens with thanks said twice; 'give thanks' is yadah, from the hand held out. 'Thy name is near' answers 'The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him' (Ps 145:18), and his 'wondrous works' (pala, things set apart as marvellous) are what 'declare' (saphar, to recount) it.

Verse 2

receive the congregation — 'Congregation' is mo'ed, an appointed time, the word of the 'tabernacle of the congregation' (Ex 27:21). God speaks: when he takes the set time he will 'judge uprightly' (meyshar, evenness), as the world is judged 'in righteousness' and the people 'in uprightness' (Ps 9:8). Paul preaches the same: God 'hath appointed a day' (Acts 17:31).

Verse 3

I bear up the pillars — 'Dissolved' is mug, to melt: the earth and its inhabitants melt, and the pillars are held. 'Bear up' is takan, to weigh out, the verb of 1 Sam 2:3, 'by him actions are weighed'; Hannah's song also says 'the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them' (1 Sam 2:8). Compare 'upholding all things by the word of his power' (Heb 1:3).

Verse 5

Lift not up your horn — The horn (qeren) is the emblem of strength, as in 'in thy favour our horn shall be exalted' (Ps 89:17); to lift it 'on high' (marom) is to boast. The 'stiff neck' is a neck that speaks (dabar) with 'athaq, arrogance, the word of Hannah's 'let not arrogancy come out of your mouth' (1 Sam 2:3). Stephen charges Israel with being 'stiffnecked' (Acts 7:51).

Verse 7

he putteth down one, and setteth up another — Shaphel, to bring low, and rum, to lift up: the pair in Hannah's song, 'he bringeth low, and lifteth up' (1 Sam 2:7). Mary's song has it: 'He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree' (Luke 1:52); Daniel says he 'removeth kings, and setteth up kings' (Dan 2:21).

Verse 8

a cup, and the wine is red — 'Red' is chamar, to foam or ferment; 'mixture' is mesek, wine mixed with spices. The cup is 'in the hand of the LORD', who pours it out; Jer 25:15 has 'the wine cup of this fury at my hand'. The wicked 'wring them out' (matsah, to drain) as well as drink, the verb of Isa 51:17; 'this shall be the portion of their cup' (Ps 11:6).

Verse 9

declare for ever — The speaker is again the psalmist, as in v.1. 'Declare' is nagad, to make plain by word of mouth, and 'sing praises' is zamar, to touch the strings, the root of mizmor, the 'Psalm' of the title. The vow runs 'for ever' (olam), as in 'I will bless thy name for ever and ever' (Ps 145:1).

Verse 10

the horns of the wicked — The horn of v.5 returns. Gada', 'cut off', is to hew down, as a tree is felled; the horns of the righteous 'shall be exalted' by rum, the verb of 'lift up' in v.5 and 'setteth up' in v.7. 'He also exalteth the horn of his people' (Ps 148:14).