you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

⁶Surely you have granted him eternal blessings

and made him glad with the joy^† of your presence.^†

⁷For the king trusts in the LORD;

through the unfailing love of the Most High

he will not be shaken.

⁸Your hand will lay hold^† on all your enemies;

your right hand will seize your foes.

⁹At the time of your appearing

you will make them like a fiery furnace.

In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up,

and his fire will consume them.^†

¹⁰You will destroy their descendants from the earth,

their posterity from mankind.^†

¹¹Though they plot evil^† against you

and devise wicked schemes,^† they cannot succeed;

¹²for you will make them turn their backs^†

when you aim at them with drawn bow.

¹³Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength;

we will sing and praise your might.

Psalm 22

For the director of music. To [the tune of] “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.

¹My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?^†

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*

Lions and Other Wild Beasts in Ancient Israel

Psalm 22 For the modern reader the ferocity of wild beasts is something of a cliché; we can mouth the analogy “as bold as a lion” without having had any firsthand experience with the terror these animals can inspire. In ancient Israel, though, such creatures were an all too real danger and a pervasive source of fear. Menacing carnivores included bears, lions, leopards, wolves and jackals. The situation of the ancient Israelite herdsman was all the more acute in that he had to defend his livestock from these beasts or face personal ruin. The shepherd literally stood between the predator and its prey (1Sa 17:36–37).¹

Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of lions and bears from the Iron Age,² and many carnivores continued in the region until the fairly recent past. Leopards still survive in parts of the Negev.³ Relief sculptures from Nineveh (c. 650 B.C.)⁴ depict the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal hunting lions from the relative safety of his war chariot, indicating that these animals were neither rare nor exotic in the ancient Near East. In Psalm 22:13–14 David likened his enemies to a roaring lion that made his heart melt; no doubt many Israelites knew what it was to be paralyzed with fear by the roars, growls, howls and snarls of wild beasts.

1. See “Shepherding in the Ancient World.”

2. See “Archaeological Periods Chart” in the front of this Bible.

3. See “The Negev: Its Climate and Features.”

4. See “Nineveh.”

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Why are you so far^† from saving me,

so far from the words of my groaning?

²O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

by night,^† and am not silent.

³Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;^†

you are the praise^† of Israel.^[40]

⁴In you our fathers put their trust;

they trusted and you delivered them.

⁵They cried to you and were saved;

in you they trusted and were not disappointed.^†

⁶But I am a worm^† and not a man,

scorned by men^† and despised^† by the people.

⁷All who see me mock me;

they hurl insults,^† shaking their heads:^†

⁸“He trusts in the LORD;

let the LORD rescue him.^†

Let him deliver him,

since he delights^† in him.”

⁹Yet you brought me out of the womb;^†

you made me trust in you

even at my mother’s breast.

¹⁰From birth^† I was cast upon you;

from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

¹¹Do not be far from me,

for trouble is near

and there is no one to help.^†

¹²Many bulls^† surround me;

strong bulls of Bashan^† encircle me.

¹³Roaring lions^† tearing their prey

open their mouths wide^† against me.

¹⁴I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint.^†

My heart has turned to wax;

it has melted away^† within me.

¹⁵My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;^†

you lay me^[41] in the dust^† of death.

¹⁶Dogs^† have surrounded me;

a band of evil men has encircled me,

they have pierced^{[42] †} my hands and my feet.

¹⁷I can count all my bones;

people stare^† and gloat over me.^†

¹⁸They divide my garments among them

and cast lots^† for my clothing.

¹⁹But you, O LORD, be not far off;

O my Strength, come quickly^† to help me.

²⁰Deliver my life from the sword,

my precious life^† from the power of the dogs.

²¹Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;

save^[43] me from the horns of the wild oxen.

²²I will declare your name to my brothers;

in the congregation I will praise you.^†

²³You who fear the LORD, praise him!^†

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

Revere him,^† all you descendants of Israel!

²⁴For he has not despised or disdained

the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face^† from him

but has listened to his cry for help.^†

²⁵From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;^†

before those who fear you^[44] will I fulfill my vows.^†

²⁶The poor will eat^† and be satisfied;

they who seek the LORD will praise him —^†

may your hearts live forever!

²⁷All the ends of the earth^†

will remember and turn to the LORD,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,^†

²⁸for dominion belongs to the LORD^†

and he rules over the nations.

²⁹All the rich^† of the earth will feast and worship;

all who go down to the dust^† will kneel before him—

those who cannot keep themselves alive.

³⁰Posterity^† will serve him;

future generations will be told about the Lord.

³¹They will proclaim his righteousness

to a people yet unborn^†—

for he has done it.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹The LORD is my shepherd,^† I shall not be in want.^†

²He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,^†

³he restores my soul.^†

He guides me in paths of righteousness^†

for his name’s sake.

⁴Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,^{[45] †}

I will fear no evil,^†

for you are with me;^†

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

⁵You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;^†

my cup^† overflows.

⁶Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

¹The earth is the LORD’s,^† and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;^†

²for he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.

³Who may ascend the hill^† of the LORD?

Who may stand in his holy place?^†

⁴He who has clean hands^† and a pure heart,^†

who does not lift up his soul to an idol

or swear by what is false.^[46]

⁵He will receive blessing from the LORD

and vindication from God his Savior.

⁶Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek your face,^† O God of Jacob.^[47] Selah

⁷Lift up your heads, O you gates;^†

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory^† may come in.

⁸Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.^†

⁹Lift up your heads, O you gates;

lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

¹⁰Who is he, this King of glory?

The LORD Almighty—

he is the King of glory. Selah

Psalm 25 ^[48]

Of David.

¹To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;^†

²in you I trust,^† O my God.

Do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

³No one whose hope is in you

will ever be put to shame,^†

but they will be put to shame

who are treacherous without excuse.

⁴Show me your ways, O LORD,

teach me your paths;^†

⁵guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

⁶Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,^†

for they are from of old.

⁷Remember not the sins of my youth^†

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love^† remember me,

for you are good, O LORD.

⁸Good and upright^† is the LORD;

therefore he instructs^† sinners in his ways.

⁹He guides^† the humble in what is right

and teaches them^† his way.

¹⁰All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful^†

for those who keep the demands of his covenant.^†

¹¹For the sake of your name,^† O LORD,

forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

¹²Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD?

He will instruct him in the way^† chosen for him.

¹³He will spend his days in prosperity,^†

and his descendants will inherit the land.^†

¹⁴The LORD confides^† in those who fear him;

he makes his covenant known^† to them.

¹⁵My eyes are ever on the LORD,^†

for only he will release my feet from the snare.

¹⁶Turn to me^† and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

¹⁷The troubles of my heart have multiplied;

free me from my anguish.^†

¹⁸Look upon my affliction and my distress^†

and take away all my sins.

¹⁹See how my enemies^† have increased

and how fiercely they hate me!

²⁰Guard my life^† and rescue me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in you.

²¹May integrity^† and uprightness protect me,

because my hope is in you.

²²Redeem Israel,^† O God,

from all their troubles!

Psalm 26

Of David.

¹Vindicate me, O LORD,

for I have led a blameless life;^†

I have trusted^† in the LORD

without wavering.^†

²Test me,^† O LORD, and try me,

examine my heart and my mind;^†

³for your love is ever before me,

and I walk continually^† in your truth.

⁴I do not sit^† with deceitful men,

nor do I consort with hypocrites;

⁵I abhor^† the assembly of evildoers

and refuse to sit with the wicked.

⁶I wash my hands in innocence,^†

and go about your altar, O LORD,

⁷proclaiming aloud your praise

and telling of all your wonderful deeds.^†

⁸I love^† the house where you live, O LORD,

the place where your glory dwells.

⁹Do not take away my soul along with sinners,

my life with bloodthirsty men,^†

¹⁰in whose hands are wicked schemes,

whose right hands are full of bribes.^†

¹¹But I lead a blameless life;

redeem me^† and be merciful to me.

¹²My feet stand on level ground;^†

in the great assembly^† I will praise the LORD.

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹The LORD is my light^† and my salvation^†—

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?^†

²When evil men advance against me

to devour my flesh,^[49]

when my enemies and my foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.^†

³Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;^†

though war break out against me,

even then will I be confident.^†

⁴One thing^† I ask of the LORD,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,^†

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to seek him in his temple.

⁵For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me^† in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.^†

⁶Then my head will be exalted^†

above the enemies who surround me;

at his tabernacle will I sacrifice^† with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the LORD.

⁷Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;

be merciful to me and answer me.^†

⁸My heart says of you, “Seek his^[50] face!”

Your face, LORD, I will seek.

⁹Do not hide your face^† from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

O God my Savior.

¹⁰Though my father and mother forsake me,

the LORD will receive me.

¹¹Teach me your way, O LORD;

lead me in a straight path^†

because of my oppressors.

¹²Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses^† rise up against me,

breathing out violence.

¹³I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD^†

in the land of the living.^†

¹⁴Wait^† for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 28

Of David.

¹To you I call, O LORD my Rock;

do not turn a deaf ear to me.

For if you remain silent,^†

I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.^†

²Hear my cry for mercy^†

as I call to you for help,

as I lift up my hands

toward your Most Holy Place.^†

³Do not drag me away with the wicked,

with those who do evil,

who speak cordially with their neighbors

but harbor malice in their hearts.^†

⁴Repay them for their deeds

and for their evil work;

repay them for what their hands have done^†

and bring back upon them what they deserve.^†

⁵Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD

and what his hands have done,^†

he will tear them down

and never build them up again.

⁶Praise be to the LORD,

for he has heard my cry for mercy.

⁷The LORD is my strength^† and my shield;

my heart trusts^† in him, and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy

and I will give thanks to him in song.^†

⁸The LORD is the strength of his people,

a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.^†

⁹Save your people and bless your inheritance;^†

be their shepherd^† and carry them^† forever.

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

¹Ascribe to the LORD,^† O mighty ones,

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*

Ugarit/Ras Shamra

Psalm 29 Ugarit (“Map 1”) was a prominent city-state that flourished during the second millennium B.C. Its capital of the same name (modern Ras Shamra) was discovered in 1929 on the coast of Syria. The site has yielded a wealth of finds, allowing for a reconstruction of its history and an understanding of its influence in the region.

The history of the site’s occupation can be traced to as early as Neolithic¹ times (fifth millennium B.C.), the period of the first appearance of humans in Syria. The Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000 B.C.) saw the migration of Amorites and Semitic Canaanites to Ugarit; these peoples settled there, bringing with them a knowledge of metallurgy and an instinct for commerce. The city developed as an important trade center on the Mediterranean coast, mediating contact between the great Aegean and Mesopotamian civilizations. At the height of its prosperity, during the fifteenth and fourteenth centuries B.C., Ugarit was a crossroads where culture and learning converged:

• Wine, oil, cosmetics and pottery from Crete, Egypt, Asia Minor and Cyprus were traded in the city.

• Texts in Akkadian, the lingua franca of the period, as well as in Egyptian, Cypriot, Hittite and Hurrian attest to Ugarit’s cosmopolitan character.²

• The excavated areas of the site have yielded temples dedicated to Baal and Dagon (or possibly El), the latter dominating the highest point of the mound.

• A spacious royal palace covered nearly three acres. This and the residences of the high priest and government officials also housed official archives.

• The city was densely populated, with roomy houses arranged around individual courtyards, as well as numerous sanctuaries.

• Examples of the first indigenous Canaanite metalwork and glyptic art (art of carving or engraving, especially on gems) abound among the artifacts.

Among the most significant finds are some 1,300 inscriptions from the fourteenth century B.C. in a western Semitic language (called Ugaritic) similar to Biblical Hebrew. Ugaritic employed an innovative cuneiform alphabet. Compositions such as the Kirta (or Keret) Epic and the Legend of Aqhat bring to light the religion of the people of this land. Some scholars, in fact, have used Ugaritic poetry to try to decipher some of the more difficult passages in Biblical poetry. The literature of Ugarit will continue to contribute to our understanding of the cultural environment of ancient Israel.³

At the end of the Bronze Age, around 1200 B.C., a great upheaval of unknown origin evidently convulsed the ancient world, causing the collapse of numerous older civilizations. Ugarit was sacked around this time and the site ultimately abandoned.

1. See “Archaeological Periods Chart” in the front of this Bible.

2. See “Languages of the Old Testament World.”

3. See “Tablets From Ugarit and Canaanite Religion”, “The Ugaritic Text of the Myth of Baal”, “The Kirta Epic” and “The Tale of Aqhat.”

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ascribe to the LORD glory^† and strength.

²Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of his^[51] holiness.^†

³The voice^† of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,^†

the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.

⁴The voice of the LORD is powerful;^†

the voice of the LORD is majestic.

⁵The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;

the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.^†

⁶He makes Lebanon skip^† like a calf,

Sirion^{[52] †} like a young wild ox.

⁷The voice of the LORD strikes

with flashes of lightning.

⁸The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;

the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.^†

⁹The voice of the LORD twists the oaks^[53]

and strips the forests bare.

And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”^†

¹⁰The LORD sits^[54] enthroned over the flood;^†

the LORD is enthroned as King forever.^†

¹¹The LORD gives strength to his people;^†

the LORD blesses his people with peace.^†

Psalm 30

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.^[55] Of David.

¹I will exalt you, O LORD,

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*

Sackcloth and Ashes: Rituals of Lamentation

Psalm 30 Abject grief was poignantly expressed in the ancient world through rituals of lamentation. Upon news of a calamity the afflicted tore their clothes and donned the garments of mourning (Ge 37:34). These coarse, sack-like coverings, woven from goat hair and typically black (Isa 50:3; Rev 6:12), could be as small as a loincloth or large enough to cover the entire body. The mourner (assuming him in this case to be a man) would prostrate himself on the ground (Jer 6:26), heap ashes upon his head (La 2:10) and sit in the dust (Job 2:8).

The violent gesture of tearing one’s clothes communicated deep distress, as well as the personal loss and/or ruin the grieving individual had suffered (Job 1:20–21). The custom of languishing in dust and ashes pointed to the fragility of human life and to the inexorable end of all life—a return to dust (Ge 3:19; Ps 103:14). Acts that otherwise would have been considered undignified, such as shaving one’s head and tearing out one’s beard (cf. 2Sa 10:4–5), became appropriate expressions of grief (Ezr 9:3; Isa 22:12). Mourners removed their shoes and fineries and refrained from anointing or perfuming themselves (2Sa 14:2; Mic 1:8). Laments were composed and chanted at a funeral (2Sa 1:17–27),¹ and professional wailing women joined family members in expressing their grief (Jer 9:17–20). The period of mourning typically lasted seven days (Ge 50:10; 1Sa 31:13).²

Rituals of mourning were also enacted in Israel in times of national crisis and/or repentance (2Ki 19:1; Ne 9:1–2). At such times kings and their subjects alike would humble themselves before the Lord in a posture of humility with fasting, sackcloth and ashes to repent and seek the visitation of his favor (Da 9:3; Jnh 3:5–9). The book of Lamentations is a ritual text of mourning over the fall of Jerusalem.

As anguish and despair were given vivid expression through the donning of sackcloth and ashes, so also the reversal of mourning is vividly portrayed as a joyful celebration in which the redeemed donned festal garments of salvation and robes of righteousness (Isa 61:10). Such would be the ministry of the Messiah: “to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isa 61:2b–3; cf. Lk 4:18–19).

1. See “Ancient Near Eastern Laments.”

2. See “Jewish Burial Practices.”

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for you lifted me out of the depths

and did not let my enemies gloat over me.^†

²O LORD my God, I called to you for help^†

and you healed me.^†

³O LORD, you brought me up from the grave^[56];

you spared me from going down into the pit.^†

⁴Sing to the LORD, you saints^† of his;

praise his holy name.^†

⁵For his anger^† lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.^†

⁶When I felt secure, I said,

“I will never be shaken.”

⁷O LORD, when you favored me,

you made my mountain^[57] stand firm;

but when you hid your face,^†

I was dismayed.

⁸To you, O LORD, I called;

to the Lord I cried for mercy:

⁹“What gain is there in my destruction,^[58]

in my going down into the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it proclaim your faithfulness?^†

¹⁰Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;

O LORD, be my help.”

¹¹You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,^†

¹²that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give you thanks^† forever.^†

Psalm 31

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame;

deliver me in your righteousness.

²Turn your ear to me,

come quickly to my rescue;

be my rock of refuge,^†

a strong fortress to save me.

³Since you are my rock and my fortress,^†

for the sake of your name^† lead and guide me.

⁴Free me from the trap that is set for me,

for you are my refuge.^†

⁵Into your hands I commit my spirit;^†

redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

⁶I hate those who cling to worthless idols;

I trust in the LORD.^†

⁷I will be glad and rejoice in your love,

for you saw my affliction^†

and knew the anguish^† of my soul.

⁸You have not handed me over^† to the enemy

but have set my feet in a spacious place.

⁹Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;

my eyes grow weak with sorrow,^†

my soul and my body with grief.

¹⁰My life is consumed by anguish

and my years by groaning;^†

my strength fails because of my affliction,^[59]

and my bones grow weak.^†

¹¹Because of all my enemies,

I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;^†

I am a dread to my friends—

those who see me on the street flee from me.

¹²I am forgotten by them as though I were dead;^†

I have become like broken pottery.

¹³For I hear the slander of many;

there is terror on every side;^†

they conspire against me

and plot to take my life.^†

¹⁴But I trust^† in you, O LORD;

I say, “You are my God.”

¹⁵My times^† are in your hands;

deliver me from my enemies

and from those who pursue me.

¹⁶Let your face shine^† on your servant;

save me in your unfailing love.

¹⁷Let me not be put to shame,^† O LORD,

for I have cried out to you;

but let the wicked be put to shame

and lie silent^† in the grave.^[60]

¹⁸Let their lying lips^† be silenced,

for with pride and contempt

they speak arrogantly^† against the righteous.

¹⁹How great is your goodness,^†

which you have stored up for those who fear you,

which you bestow in the sight of men^†

on those who take refuge in you.

²⁰In the shelter of your presence you hide^† them

from the intrigues of men;^†

in your dwelling you keep them safe

from accusing tongues.

²¹Praise be to the LORD,

for he showed his wonderful love^† to me

when I was in a besieged city.^†

²²In my alarm^† I said,

“I am cut off from your sight!”

Yet you heard my cry^† for mercy

when I called to you for help.

²³Love the LORD, all his saints!^†

The LORD preserves the faithful,^†

but the proud he pays back^† in full.

²⁴Be strong and take heart,^†

all you who hope in the LORD.

Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.^[61]

¹Blessed is he

whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.^†

²Blessed is the man

whose sin the LORD does not count against him^†

and in whose spirit is no deceit.^†

³When I kept silent,

my bones wasted away^†

through my groaning all day long.

⁴For day and night

your hand was heavy^† upon me;

my strength was sapped

as in the heat of summer. Selah

⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you

and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess^†

my transgressions^† to the LORD”—

and you forgave

the guilt of my sin.^† Selah

⁶Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you

while you may be found;^†

surely when the mighty waters rise,

they will not reach him.^†

⁷You are my hiding place;

you will protect me from trouble^†

and surround me with songs of deliverance.^† Selah

⁸I will instruct^† you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you and watch over^† you.

⁹Do not be like the horse or the mule,

which have no understanding

but must be controlled by bit and bridle^†

or they will not come to you.

¹⁰Many are the woes of the wicked,^†

but the LORD’s unfailing love

surrounds the man who trusts^† in him.

¹¹Rejoice in the LORD^† and be glad, you righteous;

sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 33

¹Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;

it is fitting^† for the upright^† to praise him.

²Praise the LORD with the harp;

make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.^†

³Sing to him a new song;^†

play skillfully, and shout for joy.

⁴For the word of the LORD is right^† and true;

he is faithful in all he does.

⁵The LORD loves righteousness and justice;^†

the earth is full of his unfailing love.^†

⁶By the word^† of the LORD were the heavens made,

their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

⁷He gathers the waters of the sea into jars^[62];

he puts the deep into storehouses.

⁸Let all the earth fear the LORD;

let all the people of the world revere him.^†

⁹For he spoke, and it came to be;

he commanded,^† and it stood firm.

¹⁰The LORD foils the plans of the nations;^†

he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

¹¹But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,

the purposes^† of his heart through all generations.

¹²Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,^†

the people he chose^† for his inheritance.

¹³From heaven the LORD looks down

and sees all mankind;^†

¹⁴from his dwelling place^† he watches

all who live on earth—

¹⁵he who forms^† the hearts of all,

who considers everything they do.^†

¹⁶No king is saved by the size of his army;^†

no warrior escapes by his great strength.

¹⁷A horse^† is a vain hope for deliverance;

despite all its great strength it cannot save.

¹⁸ But the eyes^† of the LORD are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,^†

¹⁹to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine.^†

²⁰We wait^† in hope for the LORD;

he is our help and our shield.

²¹In him our hearts rejoice,^†

for we trust in his holy name.

²²May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,

even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 34 ^[63]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

¹I will extol the LORD at all times;^†

his praise will always be on my lips.

²My soul will boast^† in the LORD;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.^†

³Glorify the LORD with me;

let us exalt^† his name together.

⁴I sought the LORD,^† and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

⁵Those who look to him are radiant;^†

their faces are never covered with shame.^†

⁶This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

⁷The angel of the LORD^† encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them.

⁸Taste and see that the LORD is good;^†

blessed is the man who takes refuge^† in him.

⁹Fear the LORD, you his saints,

for those who fear him lack nothing.^†

¹⁰The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.^†

¹¹Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you^† the fear of the LORD.

¹²Whoever of you loves life^†

and desires to see many good days,

¹³keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking lies.^†

¹⁴Turn from evil and do good;^†

seek peace^† and pursue it.

¹⁵The eyes of the LORD^† are on the righteous^†

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

¹⁶the face of the LORD is against^† those who do evil,^†

to cut off the memory^† of them from the earth.

¹⁷The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears^† them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

¹⁸The LORD is close^† to the brokenhearted^†

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

¹⁹A righteous man may have many troubles,^†

but the LORD delivers him from them all;^†

²⁰he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.^†

²¹Evil will slay the wicked;^†

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

²²The LORD redeems^† his servants;

no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 35

Of David.

¹Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;

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*

The Warrior Creed in the Akkadian Epic of Erra and Ishum

Psalm 35 Peoples of the ancient Near East understood the brutality of war from firsthand experience. In the Bible and elsewhere we see reflections of the dread of its destructiveness, but we also see examples of a “warrior creed” that glorified war and conquest.

The Akkadian epic of Erra and Ishum focuses on Erra (also called Nergal), a god of war, plague and the underworld. In the myth, Erra has been lethargic but threatens to arouse himself and massacre the “black-headed people” (i.e., the Mesopotamians). Erra is urged on by a group of seven warrior gods, but in the end the situation is defused by the counsel of the god Ishum.

Of particular interest is the manner in which the seven warrior gods urge Erra to rouse himself for battle. They inform him that staying home is effeminate and childish; the battlefield is the province in which a man gains honor. The fancy cuisine of the city, they claim, cannot begin to compare with food roasted over embers out in the field or to water drunk from a skin. Furthermore, it is a disgrace to allow weapons to rust or to become covered with cobwebs. They also exhort Erra to slaughter his opponents and thus to terrify the world. Their words probably reflect the militaristic ideology of actual Assyrian soldiers—a perfect example of a warrior creed.¹

Psalm 35 is strikingly different: a prayer by David for God’s help in battle. Nevertheless, the psalm offers a helpful point of comparison because it illustrates the ideology of David, who was also a warrior. There is no glorification of brutality here; to the contrary, David condemns those who declare war without just cause (vv. 19–21). As elsewhere in the Psalms, David appealed to God’s justice. Most significantly, by pleading for God to intervene on his behalf, David repudiated the notion of gaining glory for himself by his own belligerence or aggression.

1. See “Songs of Warriors.”

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fight^† against those who fight against me.

²Take up shield and buckler;

arise^† and come to my aid.

³Brandish spear and javelin^[64]

against those who pursue me.

Say to my soul,

“I am your salvation.”

⁴May those who seek my life

be disgraced^† and put to shame;

may those who plot my ruin

be turned back in dismay.

⁵May they be like chaff^† before the wind,

with the angel of the LORD driving them away;

⁶may their path be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

⁷Since they hid their net for me without cause

and without cause dug a pit for me,

⁸may ruin overtake them by surprise —^†

may the net they hid entangle them,

may they fall into the pit,^† to their ruin.

⁹Then my soul will rejoice^† in the LORD

and delight in his salvation.^†

¹⁰My whole being will exclaim,

“Who is like you,^† O LORD?

You rescue the poor from those too strong^† for them,

the poor and needy^† from those who rob them.”

¹¹Ruthless witnesses^† come forward;

they question me on things I know nothing about.

¹²They repay me evil for good^†

and leave my soul forlorn.

¹³Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth

and humbled myself with fasting.^†

When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

¹⁴I went about mourning

as though for my friend or brother.

I bowed my head in grief

as though weeping for my mother.

¹⁵But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;

attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.

They slandered^† me without ceasing.

¹⁶Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked^[65];

---

Ancient Voices

Why do you stay in town like a feeble old man?

How can you stay at home like a lisping child?

Are we to eat women’s bread, like one who has never marched on to the battlefield?

Are we to be fearful and nervous as if we had no experience of war?

To go on to the battlefield is as good as a festival for young men!

Anyone who stays in town, be he a prince, will not be satisfied with bread alone;

He will be vilified in the mouths of his own people, and dishonored.

How can he raise his hand against one who goes to the battlefield?

However great the strength of one who stays in town,

How can he prevail over one who has been on the battlefield?

City food, however fancy, cannot compare with what is cooked on the embers.

—Erra and Ishum

See “The Warrior Creed in the Akkadian Epic of Erra and Ishum” article.

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they gnashed their teeth^† at me.

¹⁷O Lord, how long^† will you look on?

Rescue my life from their ravages,

my precious life^† from these lions.

¹⁸I will give you thanks in the great assembly;^†

among throngs of people I will praise you.^†

¹⁹Let not those gloat over me

who are my enemies without cause;

let not those who hate me without reason^†

maliciously wink the eye.^†

²⁰They do not speak peaceably,

but devise false accusations

against those who live quietly in the land.

²¹They gape^† at me and say, “Aha! Aha!^†

With our own eyes we have seen it.”

²²O LORD, you have seen^† this; be not silent.

Do not be far^† from me, O Lord.

²³Awake,^† and rise to my defense!

Contend for me, my God and Lord.

²⁴Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God;

do not let them gloat over me.

²⁵Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”

or say, “We have swallowed him up.”^†

²⁶May all who gloat over my distress

be put to shame^† and confusion;

may all who exalt themselves over me^†

be clothed with shame and disgrace.

²⁷May those who delight in my vindication^†

shout for joy^† and gladness;

may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,

who delights^† in the well-being of his servant.”

²⁸My tongue will speak of your righteousness^†

and of your praises all day long.

Psalm 36

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.

¹An oracle is within my heart

concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:^[66]

There is no fear of God

before his eyes.^†

²For in his own eyes he flatters himself

too much to detect or hate his sin.

³The words of his mouth^† are wicked and deceitful;

he has ceased to be wise^† and to do good.^†

⁴Even on his bed he plots evil;^†

he commits himself to a sinful course^†

and does not reject what is wrong.^†

⁵Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the skies.

⁶Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

your justice like the great deep.^†

O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.

⁷How priceless is your unfailing love!

Both high and low among men

find^[67] refuge in the shadow of your wings.^†

⁸They feast on the abundance of your house;^†

you give them drink from your river^† of delights.

⁹For with you is the fountain of life;^†

in your light^† we see light.

¹⁰Continue your love to those who know you,

your righteousness to the upright in heart.

¹¹May the foot of the proud not come against me,

nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

¹²See how the evildoers lie fallen—

thrown down, not able to rise!^†

Psalm 37 ^[68]

Of David.

¹Do not fret because of evil men

or be envious^† of those who do wrong;^†

²for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.^†

³Trust in the LORD and do good;

dwell in the land^† and enjoy safe pasture.^†

⁴Delight^† yourself in the LORD

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him^† and he will do this:

⁶He will make your righteousness^† shine like the dawn,^†

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

⁷Be still^† before the LORD and wait patiently^† for him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

⁸Refrain from anger^† and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.

⁹For evil men will be cut off,

but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.^†

¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more;^†

though you look for them, they will not be found.

¹¹But the meek will inherit the land^†

and enjoy great peace.

¹²The wicked plot against the righteous

and gnash their teeth^† at them;

¹³but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for he knows their day is coming.^†

¹⁴The wicked draw the sword

and bend the bow^†

to bring down the poor and needy,^†

to slay those whose ways are upright.

¹⁵But their swords will pierce their own hearts,^†

and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶Better the little that the righteous have

than the wealth^† of many wicked;

¹⁷for the power of the wicked will be broken,^†

but the LORD upholds the righteous.

¹⁸The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,^†

and their inheritance will endure forever.

¹⁹In times of disaster they will not wither;

in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

²⁰But the wicked will perish:

The LORD’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,

they will vanish—vanish like smoke.^†

²¹The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;^†

²²those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,

but those he curses^† will be cut off.

²³If the LORD delights^† in a man’s way,

he makes his steps firm;^†

²⁴though he stumble, he will not fall,^†

for the LORD upholds^† him with his hand.

²⁵I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken^†

or their children begging bread.

²⁶They are always generous and lend freely;

their children will be blessed.^†

²⁷Turn from evil and do good;^†

then you will dwell in the land forever.

²⁸For the LORD loves the just

and will not forsake his faithful ones.

They will be protected forever,

but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;^†

²⁹the righteous will inherit the land^†

and dwell in it forever.

³⁰The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,

and his tongue speaks what is just.

³¹The law of his God is in his heart;^†

his feet do not slip.^†

³²The wicked lie in wait^† for the righteous,

seeking their very lives;

³³but the LORD will not leave them in their power

or let them be condemned when brought to trial.^†

³⁴Wait for the LORD^†

and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

when the wicked are cut off, you will see^† it.

³⁵I have seen a wicked and ruthless man

flourishing^† like a green tree in its native soil,

³⁶but he soon passed away and was no more;

though I looked for him, he could not be found.^†

³⁷Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

there is a future^[69] for the man of peace.^†

³⁸But all sinners will be destroyed;

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Ancient Voices

Who has not been negligent, which one has committed no sin?

Who can understand a god’s behavior?

I would fain be obedient and incur no sin,

Yes, I would frequent the haunts of health!

Men are commanded by the gods to act under curse,

Divine affliction is for mankind to bear.

I am surely responsible for some neglect of you,

I have surely trespassed the limits set by the god.

Forget what I did in my youth, whatever it was,

Let your heart not well up against me!

Absolve my guilt, remit my punishment …

—Prayer to Marduk

See “A Prayer of Confession to Marduk” article.

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the future^[70] of the wicked will be cut off.^†

³⁹The salvation^† of the righteous comes from the LORD;

he is their stronghold in time of trouble.^†

⁴⁰The LORD helps^† them and delivers^† them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him.

Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A petition.

¹O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger

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*

A Prayer of Confession to Marduk

Psalm 38 Since the Psalms originated from the same cultural milieu as other ancient Near Eastern hymns and prayers, Bible readers need not be surprised to find that Israelite and pagan texts can be similar. In Psalm 38 David lamented that God was against him. God, he alleged, came at him like a warrior (v. 2), and David felt sick and feeble (vv. 3–6, 10, 13–14). He recognized that he had sinned against God (vv. 3, 18) and concluded the psalm with a plea for the Lord’s help (vv. 21–22).

From Akkadian literature comes a similar prayer to Marduk, the chief god of Babylon (date of composition unknown). In it the poet bemoaned Marduk’s anger. He confessed that he had sinned against Marduk and lamented that he was so afflicted that he was bent over like an old man. He pled for forgiveness and concluded, “O warrior Marduk, let me sound your praises!” Unlike the psalmist, however, this supplicant was fatalistic about Marduk’s actions (“Who can understand a god’s behavior?” he bemoaned) and also sought the aid of lesser gods and goddesses.

Just as we can cite similarities between Christian and non-Christian worship in contemporary society, so also we can find correlations in the Old Testament world. The similarities between an Old Testament and a Mesopotamian prayer help us to see what was common to the world of that day in terms of prayer language. The differences, on the other hand, enable us to recognize the distinctive faith of Israel.¹

1. For further examples, see “‘I Will Praise the Lord of Wisdom’” and “A Man and His God.”

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or discipline me in your wrath.^†

²For your arrows^† have pierced me,

and your hand has come down upon me.

³Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;

my bones^† have no soundness because of my sin.

⁴My guilt has overwhelmed me

like a burden too heavy to bear.^†

⁵My wounds fester and are loathsome

because of my sinful folly.^†

⁶I am bowed down and brought very low;

all day long I go about mourning.^†

⁷My back is filled with searing pain;^†

there is no health in my body.

⁸I am feeble and utterly crushed;

I groan^† in anguish of heart.

⁹All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;

my sighing^† is not hidden from you.

¹⁰My heart pounds, my strength fails^† me;

even the light has gone from my eyes.^†

¹¹My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;^†

my neighbors stay far away.

¹²Those who seek my life set their traps,^†

those who would harm me talk of my ruin;^†

all day long they plot deception.^†

¹³I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear,

like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;

¹⁴I have become like a man who does not hear,

whose mouth can offer no reply.

¹⁵I wait^† for you, O LORD;

you will answer,^† O Lord my God.

¹⁶For I said, “Do not let them gloat^†

or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”^†

¹⁷For I am about to fall,

and my pain is ever with me.

¹⁸I confess my iniquity;^†

I am troubled by my sin.

¹⁹Many are those who are my vigorous enemies;^†

those who hate me without reason^† are numerous.

²⁰Those who repay my good with evil^†

slander me when I pursue what is good.

²¹O LORD, do not forsake me;

be not far^† from me, O my God.

²²Come quickly to help me,^†

O Lord my Savior.^†

Psalm 39

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

¹I said, “I will watch my ways^†

and keep my tongue from sin;^†

I will put a muzzle on my mouth

as long as the wicked are in my presence.”

²But when I was silent^† and still,

not even saying anything good,

my anguish increased.

³My heart grew hot within me,

and as I meditated, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end

and the number of my days;^†

let me know how fleeting is my life.^†

⁵You have made my days^† a mere handbreadth;

the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Each man’s life is but a breath.^† Selah

⁶Man is a mere phantom^† as he goes to and fro:

He bustles about, but only in vain;^†

he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.^†

⁷“But now, Lord, what do I look for?

My hope is in you.^†

⁸Save me^† from all my transgressions;^†

do not make me the scorn of fools.

⁹I was silent; I would not open my mouth,^†

for you are the one who has done this.

¹⁰Remove your scourge from me;

I am overcome by the blow of your hand.^†

¹¹You rebuke^† and discipline men for their sin;

you consume their wealth like a moth^†—

each man is but a breath. Selah

¹²“Hear my prayer, O LORD,

listen to my cry for help;

be not deaf to my weeping.

For I dwell with you as an alien,^†

a stranger,^† as all my fathers were.

¹³Look away from me, that I may rejoice again

before I depart and am no more.”^†

Psalm 40

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹I waited patiently^† for the LORD;

he turned to me and heard my cry.^†

²He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;^†

he set my feet on a rock^†

and gave me a firm place to stand.

³He put a new song^† in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the LORD.

⁴Blessed is the man^†

who makes the LORD his trust,^†

who does not look to the proud,

to those who turn aside to false gods.^[71]

⁵Many, O LORD my God,

are the wonders^† you have done.

The things you planned for us

no one can recount^† to you;

were I to speak and tell of them,

they would be too many to declare.

⁶Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,^†

but my ears you have pierced^[72],[73];

burnt offerings^† and sin offerings

you did not require.

⁷Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—

it is written about me in the scroll.^[74]

⁸I desire to do your will,^† O my God;

your law is within my heart.”^†

⁹I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;^†

I do not seal my lips,

as you know,^† O LORD.

¹⁰I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;

I speak of your faithfulness^† and salvation.

I do not conceal your love and your truth

from the great assembly.^†

¹¹Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;

may your love^† and your truth^† always protect me.

¹²For troubles^† without number surround me;

my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.^†

They are more than the hairs of my head,^†

and my heart fails^† within me.

¹³Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;

O LORD, come quickly to help me.^†

¹⁴May all who seek to take my life

be put to shame and confusion;

may all who desire my ruin^†

be turned back in disgrace.

¹⁵May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”

be appalled at their own shame.

¹⁶But may all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who love your salvation always say,

“The LORD be exalted!”^†

¹⁷Yet I am poor and needy;

may the Lord think of me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

O my God, do not delay.^†

Psalm 41

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;^†

the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.

²The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;

he will bless him in the land^†

and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.^†

³The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed

and restore him from his bed of illness.

⁴I said, “O LORD, have mercy^† on me;

heal me, for I have sinned^† against you.”

⁵My enemies say of me in malice,

“When will he die and his name perish?^†”

⁶Whenever one comes to see me,

he speaks falsely,^† while his heart gathers slander;^†

then he goes out and spreads it abroad.

⁷All my enemies whisper together^† against me;

they imagine the worst for me, saying,

⁸“A vile disease has beset him;

he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

⁹Even my close friend,^† whom I trusted,

he who shared my bread,

has lifted up his heel against me.^†

¹⁰But you, O LORD, have mercy on me;

raise me up,^† that I may repay them.

¹¹I know that you are pleased with me,^†

for my enemy does not triumph over me.^†

¹²In my integrity you uphold me^†

and set me in your presence forever.^†

¹³Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,^†

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.^†

BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

Psalm 42 ^[75]

For the director of music. A maskil^[76] of the Sons of Korah.

¹As the deer pants for streams of water,

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*

The Elohistic Psalter

Psalm 42 The Old Testament generally uses one of two different Hebrew words to refer to God:

• Elohim: This term, translated simply as God, is a generic Hebrew word, comparable to the English God, the French Dieu or the German Gott.

• Yahweh: This word is the proper name of God, but it is usually translated in English as “the LORD.” In older translations it is sometimes written as “Jehovah.”

An enigma in the Psalms is the so-called Elohistic Psalter, encompassing Psalms 42–83. This collection of psalms has been so designated because in them God is generally referred to as Elohim instead of Yahweh (230 versus 43 occurrences, respectively). We can verify this even in the English by simply comparing how often the word “God” appears in these psalms in comparison to “the LORD.” Elsewhere in the Psalms, however, Yahweh is used more frequently than Elohim. How can we explain this peculiarity in Psalms 42–83?

• A hypothesis that is almost certainly incorrect relates the Elohistic Psalter to the “Documentary Hypothesis.”¹ This theory states that three major documents, referred to as J, E and P, are the sources of Genesis (a fourth theoretical source, D, contributed very little to Genesis).

According to this theory J refers to God as Yahweh in Genesis because J believed that the patriarchs knew the divine name Yahweh. Thus, so-called “J” texts always refer to God as Yahweh. However, E and P call him Elohim because they believed that the name Yahweh was not revealed until the time of Moses. Thus, E and P do not use Yahweh in Genesis.

The Rebdorf Psalter; Germany, twelfth century A.D.

© The Schøyen Collection; photography courtesy of Mr. Martin Schøyen

There are good reasons to believe that this theory is groundless. More than that, this hypothesis has no bearing on the divine name as it appears in the Psalms.

• A second possibility is that Psalms 42–83 use Elohim instead of Yahweh in order to communicate that the God whom Israel worshiped was not merely a local, national god but the One true deity over heaven and Earth: God. A problem with this explanation is that even when speaking to Gentiles about God as the universal deity, Israelites did not avoid the name Yahweh. Jonah, in Jonah 1:9, asserted to pagan sailors, “I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” (See also Ps 89:6; 113:5; Jer 51:19.)

• A third possibility is that the Elohistic Psalter reflects a shift in attitude about speaking the divine name, Yahweh.

We know that in later Judaism the name Yahweh was never pronounced for fear of committing blasphemy.² Instead of pronouncing God’s proper name the Israelite would say Adonai (“my Lord”) or hashem (“the name”). When a reader in the synagogue came to the name Yahweh in a text, he would simply substitute Adonai.

It may be that the Elohistic Psalter represents a specific stage in the history of the compilation of the book of Psalms. Psalm 14 is almost identical to Psalm 53, except that where Psalm 14 uses Yahweh Psalm 53 substitutes Elohim. If Psalm 14 is the original version, it may be that a later editor replaced Yahweh with Elohim in Psalm 53 (a similar relationship exists between Ps 40 and 70).

Thus, the collection and editing of the Elohistic Psalter may reflect a time when people had begun to feel uncomfortable about pronouncing the name Yahweh but had not yet developed the practice of substituting Adonai or hashem.

We do not know with certainty, however, why the Elohistic Psalter prefers Elohim over Yahweh. See also “The Names of God” chart.

1. See “The Documentary Hypothesis.”

2. See “YHWH: The Name of God in the Old Testament.”

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so my soul pants^† for you, O God.

²My soul thirsts^† for God, for the living God.^†

When can I go^† and meet with God?

³My tears^† have been my food

day and night,

while men say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”^†

⁴These things I remember

as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go with the multitude,

leading the procession to the house of God,^†

with shouts of joy and thanksgiving^†

among the festive throng.

⁵Why are you downcast,^† O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,^†

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior^† and ⁶my God.

My^[77] soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remember you

from the land of the Jordan,

the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

⁷Deep calls to deep

in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers

have swept over me.^†

⁸By day the LORD directs his love,^†

at night^† his song^† is with me—

a prayer to the God of my life.

⁹I say to God my Rock,

“Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I go about mourning,^†

oppressed by the enemy?”

¹⁰My bones suffer mortal agony

as my foes taunt me,

saying to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

¹¹Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.^†

Psalm 43 ^[78]

¹Vindicate me, O God,

and plead my cause^† against an ungodly nation;

rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.^†

²You are God my stronghold.

Why have you rejected^† me?

Why must I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?^†

³Send forth your light^† and your truth,

let them guide me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain,^†

to the place where you dwell.^†

⁴Then will I go to the altar^† of God,

to God, my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the harp,^†

O God, my God.

⁵Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.^†

Psalm 44

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[79]

¹We have heard with our ears, O God;

our fathers have told us^†

what you did in their days,

in days long ago.

²With your hand you drove out^† the nations

and planted^† our fathers;

you crushed the peoples

and made our fathers flourish.^†

³It was not by their sword^† that they won the land,

nor did their arm bring them victory;

it was your right hand, your arm,^†

and the light of your face, for you loved^† them.

⁴You are my King^† and my God,

who decrees^[80] victories for Jacob.

⁵ Through you we push back our enemies;

through your name we trample^† our foes.

⁶I do not trust in my bow,^†

my sword does not bring me victory;

⁷but you give us victory^† over our enemies,

you put our adversaries to shame.^†

⁸In God we make our boast^† all day long,

and we will praise your name forever.^† Selah

⁹But now you have rejected^† and humbled us;

you no longer go out with our armies.^†

¹⁰You made us retreat^† before the enemy,

and our adversaries have plundered us.

¹¹You gave us up to be devoured like sheep^†

and have scattered us among the nations.^†

¹²You sold your people for a pittance,^†

gaining nothing from their sale.

¹³You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,^†

the scorn^† and derision of those around us.

¹⁴You have made us a byword among the nations;

the peoples shake their heads^† at us.

¹⁵My disgrace is before me all day long,

and my face is covered with shame

¹⁶at the taunts of those who reproach and revile^† me,

because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

¹⁷All this happened to us,

though we had not forgotten^† you

or been false to your covenant.

¹⁸Our hearts had not turned^† back;

our feet had not strayed from your path.

¹⁹But you crushed^† us and made us a haunt for jackals

and covered us over with deep darkness.^†

²⁰If we had forgotten^† the name of our God

or spread out our hands to a foreign god,^†

²¹would not God have discovered it,

since he knows the secrets of the heart?^†

²²Yet for your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.^†

²³Awake,^† O Lord! Why do you sleep?^†

Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.^†

²⁴Why do you hide your face^†

and forget our misery and oppression?^†

²⁵We are brought down to the dust;^†

our bodies cling to the ground.

²⁶Rise up^† and help us;

redeem^† us because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 45

For the director of music. To [the tune of] “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[81] A wedding song.

¹My heart is stirred by a noble theme

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*

The Ancient Near Eastern King

Psalm 45 Israel’s plea for a king “such as all the other nations have” (1Sa 8:5) testifies to how common this form of government was in the ancient Near East. Discharging judicial, military and sacral responsibilities along with political obligations, the king was the fulcrum of state administration and ideology. Psalm 45, a royal wedding song, alludes to several aspects of kingship. First, the Israelite king modeled and guaranteed justice and righteousness (vv. 4, 7). In comparison, the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi proclaimed the king’s divinely ordained role as legal authority. Moreover, verses 3–5 describe the king’s role as the military commander-in-chief, a theme amply and ferociously demonstrated by Assyrian rulers who recounted military exploits in artistic reliefs and written annals.¹

Hawara, Egypt: the site of the pyramid of Middle Kingdom pharaoh Amenemhet

Preserving Bible Times; © Dr. James C. Martin

In antiquity religion permeated royal ideology. Rulers were expected to provide offerings, build and maintain temples and participate in ritual feasts.² Yet the institution of kingship was not necessarily identical from one nation to another; the nature of the king’s sacred duties differed from nation to nation. According to the Egyptian Tale of Sinuhe, when king Amenemhet I died he became united with the sun god. This notion of the deification of the king and the divine nature of his office are reflected in many Egyptian texts. On the other hand, although Mesopotamians occasionally depicted their king as a deity, they tended to construe him as a divine representative. The king played such a critical role in the Mesopotamians’ annual New Year’s festival that, during the Neo-Babylonian period, the feast was not celebrated due to his absence.

Divine rule and human kingship were also intertwined in Israel (v. 6). The Davidic covenant (2Sa 7) and several psalms (e.g., Ps 2; 89) describe a unique father-son relationship between Yahweh and his anointed. Yahweh, however, placed numerous constraints and moral requirements upon the king, and this is quite different from what we see elsewhere in the ancient Near East. Prophets like Elijah and Nathan openly criticized the king when he engaged in wrong practices; Deuteronomy 17:16 severely limited his military procurements, and even his sacral duties were carefully defined (2Ch 26:16–20).

1. See “The Lachish Reliefs” and “The Annals of Sargon II.”

2. See “The Cylinders of Gudea.”

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as I recite my verses for the king;

my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

²You are the most excellent of men

and your lips have been anointed with grace,^†

since God has blessed you forever.

³Gird your sword^† upon your side, O mighty one;^†

clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.

⁴In your majesty ride forth victoriously^†

in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;

let your right hand display awesome deeds.

⁵Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;

let the nations fall beneath your feet.

⁶Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;^†

a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

⁷You love righteousness^† and hate wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

by anointing^† you with the oil of joy.^†

⁸All your robes are fragrant^† with myrrh and aloes and cassia;

from palaces adorned with ivory

the music of the strings makes you glad.

⁹Daughters of kings^† are among your honored women;

at your right hand^† is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

¹⁰Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear:

Forget your people^† and your father’s house.

¹¹The king is enthralled by your beauty;

honor^† him, for he is your lord.^†

¹²The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift,^{[82] †}

men of wealth will seek your favor.

¹³All glorious^† is the princess within [her chamber];

her gown is interwoven with gold.

¹⁴In embroidered garments she is led to the king;^†

her virgin companions follow her

and are brought to you.

¹⁵They are led in with joy and gladness;

they enter the palace of the king.

¹⁶Your sons will take the place of your fathers;

you will make them princes throughout the land.

¹⁷I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;^†

therefore the nations will praise you^† for ever and ever.

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[83] A song.

¹God is our refuge^† and strength,

an ever-present^† help in trouble.

²Therefore we will not fear,^† though the earth give way^†

and the mountains fall^† into the heart of the sea,

³though its waters roar^† and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah

⁴There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,^†

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

⁵God is within her,^† she will not fall;

God will help^† her at break of day.

⁶Nations^† are in uproar, kingdoms^† fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.^†

⁷The LORD Almighty is with us;^†

the God of Jacob is our fortress.^† Selah

⁸Come and see the works of the LORD,^†

the desolations^† he has brought on the earth.

⁹He makes wars^† cease to the ends of the earth;

he breaks the bow^† and shatters the spear,

he burns the shields^[84] with fire.^†

¹⁰“Be still, and know that I am God;^†

I will be exalted^† among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Psalm 47

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹Clap your hands,^† all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.^†

²How awesome^† is the LORD Most High,

the great King^† over all the earth!

³He subdued^† nations under us,

peoples under our feet.

⁴He chose our inheritance^† for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah

⁵God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.^†

⁶Sing praises^† to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

⁷For God is the King of all the earth;^†

sing to him a psalm^{[85] †} of praise.

⁸God reigns^† over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.

⁹The nobles of the nations assemble

as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings^[86] of the earth belong to God;^†

he is greatly exalted.^†

Psalm 48

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

¹Great is the LORD,^† and most worthy of praise,

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*

Zaphon, Olympus, Sinai and Zion: The Mountain of God

Psalm 48 Most people today are aware that the gods of the Greek myths had their palace on Mount Olympus; less well known is Zaphon, the sacred mountain of the Canaanite god Baal-Hadad. The actual Mount Olympus (9,573 ft [2,918 m] in height) is in northern Greece at the border of Thessaly and Macedonia; the actual Zaphon (5,807 ft [1,770 m] high) is in northern Syria on the Orontes River. In both cases the mystery and grandeur of a high mountain in the far north seemed appropriate to ancient peoples as the abodes of their gods.

The Israelites also had sacred mountains. The first of these was Mount Sinai, located far to the south.¹ Mount Sinai was not recognized as the home of God but as the mountain to which he had descended in order to meet Moses and give Israel his law. Despite the fact that a pivotal event in Israel’s history had taken place there, later texts, such as the Psalms, pay relatively little attention to Sinai. It does not appear to have been a place of pilgrimage either, although on one occasion Elijah did journey to Sinai in order to encounter God (see 1Ki 19:8, where Sinai is called Horeb).

Both the psalmists and the Old Testament prophets paid far more attention to Mount Zion. This is somewhat surprising, for, unlike the other mountains mentioned above, Zion is neither remote nor particularly impressive. It constitutes the hilly area of Jerusalem—more specifically, the temple mount. The claim of Psalm 48:2 (“It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion”) would hardly seem accurate with reference to its literal height. This area of Jerusalem sits about 2,000 feet (610 m) above sea level, and although the views are impressive Zion hardly dominates the area of Judah in the same way Olympus overshadows Greece. Also, unlike the other mountains, it had a large human population and thus none of the remoteness or mystery typically associated with the mountains of the gods.

The term “Zion” in the Old Testament is used as a kind of code word for the coming kingdom of God. Zion was a symbol of God’s dominion over the whole earth, as well as the promise of a great future, when the Gentiles would come and submit to Israel’s God (Isa 2:2–4). The worship at the temple was a foretaste of that future, when David’s kingdom would extend over all humanity forever. The very presence of Zion in a human city, Jerusalem, was proof that God’s covenant was with people and that, unlike the gods of the nations, he would indeed dwell among us.

Mount Olympus

Photograph: © Todd Bolen/Bible Places.com

1. But see “The Location of Mount Sinai.”

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in the city of our God,^† his holy mountain.^†

²It is beautiful^† in its loftiness,

the joy of the whole earth.

Like the utmost heights of Zaphon^[87] is Mount Zion,

the^[88] city of the Great King.^†

³God is in her citadels;

he has shown himself to be her fortress.^†

⁴When the kings joined forces,

when they advanced together,^†

⁵they saw [her] and were astounded;

they fled in terror.^†

⁶Trembling seized them there,

pain like that of a woman in labor.

⁷You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish

shattered by an east wind.^†

⁸As we have heard,

so have we seen

in the city of the LORD Almighty,

in the city of our God:

God makes her secure forever.^† Selah

⁹Within your temple, O God,

we meditate on your unfailing love.^†

¹⁰Like your name,^† O God,

your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;^†

your right hand is filled with righteousness.

¹¹Mount Zion rejoices,

the villages of Judah are glad