Historical
74 (A Maskil of Asaph) O Elohim, why hast Thou cast us off lanetzach? Why doth Thine anger smoke against the tzon (sheep) of Thy mireh (pasture)?
2 Remember Thy Edah (congregation), which Thou hast purchased of old; the shevet (tribe) of Thine nachalah, which Thou hast redeemed: this Har Tziyon, wherein Thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift up Thy footsteps unto the mashu’ot netzach (perpetual ruins); even all that the oyev hath done wickedly in the Kodesh [the Beis HaMikdash].
4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of Thy Mo’ed (place of meeting); they set up their banners for otot (signs, i.e., their heathen insignia).
5 It had been as though one lifted up kardumim (axes) upon the thicket of etz.
6 But now they break down the carved panels [of the Beis HaMikdash] at once with hammers and chisels.
7 They have set ablaze Thy Mikdash, burning it to the ground; they have brought chillul to the Mishkan Shemecha (the dwelling place of Thy Name).
8 They said in their hearts, Let us crush them altogether; they have burned up all the Mo’adei El in HaAretz.
9 We see not our otot (signs); there is no longer any navi; neither is there among us any that knoweth ad mah (until when).
10 O Elohim ad mosai, (how long) shall the adversary revile? Shall the oyev (enemy) blaspheme Thy Shem lanetzach (forever)?
11 Why withdrawest Thou Thy Yad, even Thy Yamin (Right Hand)? Take it out of Thy Kheyk (bosom) and destroy [them].
12 For Elohim is my Melech mikedem (from of old), working Yeshuah (salvation) in the midst of Ha’Aretz.
13 Thou didst divide the yam by Thy oz (power); Thou didst break the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.
14 Thou didst break the head of Leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be ma’akhal (food) to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 Thou didst break open the fountain and the flood; Thou driedst up mighty naharot (rivers).
16 The yom is Thine, the lailah also is Thine; Thou hast prepared the ma’ohr (luminary, moon) and the shemesh.
17 Thou hast set all the boundaries of Eretz; Thou hast made kayitz (summer) and choref (winter).
18 Remember this, that the oyev (enemy) hath reproached Hashem, and that the am naval (foolish people) have blasphemed Shimcha.
19 O deliver not the nefesh of Thy turtledove unto the wild beast; forget not the life of Thy aniyim (poor) lanetzach (forever).
20 Have regard unto the Brit (covenant); for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of chamas.
21 O let not the oppressed return in shame; let the oni and evyon praise Thy Shem.
22 Arise, O Elohim, fight for Thine Own cause; remember how the naval (foolish man) revileth Thee kol hayom.
23 Forget not the kol (voice) of Thine enemies, the tumult of those against Thee that rises up tamid (continually). [T.N. Cf Lk 2:23-24 and Ps 74:19 remembering that the turtledove was the sacrifice of the poor, which Moshiach would be, not a rich man but ani, according to Zech 9:9.]
75 (For the one directing. Set to Do Not Destroy. Mizmor Asaph. Shir) Hodinu l’cha Elohim (Unto thee, Elohim, do we give thanks). Hodinu; that Thy Shem is near Thy wondrous works declare.
2 (3) I shall seize the mo’ed (appointed time, Chabakuk 2:3) I will judge uprightly.
3 (4) Eretz and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolving; I, even I, hold up the ammudim (pillars) of it. Selah.
4 (5) I said unto the hollelim (arrogant), Deal not boastfully; and to the resha’im, Lift not up the keren;
5 (6) Lift not up your keren on high; speak not with a stiff neck.
6 (7) For promotion cometh lo (not) from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert.
7 (8) But Elohim is the Shofet; He bringeth down one, and setteth up another.
8 (9) For in the yad Hashem there is a kos, and the yayin is foaming; full of mixture; and He poureth out of the same; but the dregs thereof, all rishei aretz (wicked of the earth) shall drain them down, and drink them [Lk 22:42].
9 (10) But I will proclaim l’olam; I will sing zemirot to Elohei Ya’akov.
10 (11) All the karnayim of the resha’im also will I cut off; but the karnayim of the tzaddik shall be exalted. [T.N. In this Psalm we see that G-d is Judge. The Bible speaks of a great Assize where there will be a verdict regarding the sheep and the goats, the redeemed and the reprobate. See Rev 19:11 and 20:4-5.]
76 (For the one directing. On stringed instruments. Mizmor of Asaph. Shir.) In Yehudah is Elohim known; Shmo is gadol in Yisroel.
2 (3) In Shalem [i.e., Yerushalayim] also is His Sukkah, and His Ma’on (dwelling place) in Tziyon [see Yochanan chp 14 OJBC].
3 (4) There He broke the flashing arrows, the mogen, and the cherev, and the milchamah. Selah.
4 (5) Thou art more glorious and adir (majestic) than the mountains of prey.
5 (6) The stouthearted are plundered; now their last sleep they sleep; and none of the anshei chayil can find their hands.
6 (7) At Thy rebuke, O Elohei Ya’akov, both the merkavah and sus are cast into a dead sleep.
7 (8) Thou, even Thou, art to be feared; and who may stand in Thy sight when once Thou art angry?
8 (9) Thou didst pronounce din (sentence, judgment) from Shomayim; Eretz feared, and was still,
9 (10) When Elohim arose to mishpat, to save all the meek of Eretz. Selah.
10 (11) Surely the chamat adam (the wrath of man) shall praise Thee; the she’erit (remnant, survivor) of wrath shalt Thou restrain [from doing evil].
11 (12) Make neder (vow), and pay unto Hashem Eloheichem; let all that be around Him bring gifts unto Him that ought to be feared.
12 (13) He shall cut short the ruach of negidim (nobles); He is fearsome to the Malkhei-Aretz (Kings of the Earth).
77 (For the one directing. Set to Yedutun. Mizmor of Asaph) I cried unto Elohim with my voice, even unto Elohim with my voice; and He gave ear unto me.
2 (3) In my yom tzoros (day of trouble) I sought Adonoi; my hand was stretched up in the lailah, and ceased not; my nefesh refused to be comforted.
3 (4) I remembered Elohim, and groaned; I pondered, and my ruach was overwhelmed. Selah.
4 (5) Thou holdest mine eyelids awake; I am so troubled that lo adaber (I cannot speak).
5 (6) I have considered the yamim mikedem (days of old), the shnot olamim (years long past).
6 (7) I called to remembrance my neginah balailah (song in the night); I communed with mine own lev; and my ruach pondered with diligent search.
7 (8) Will Adonoi cast off forever? And will He show favor no more?
8 (9) Is His chesed passed away forever? Is His promise at an end l’dor vador?
9 (10) Hath El (G-d) forgotten to be channot (gracious)? Hath He in anger shut up His rachamim (mercy)? Selah.
10 (11) And I said, This is my affliction; but I will remember the shanot of the Yemin Elyon (Right Hand of the Most High).
11 (12) I will remember the deeds of Hashem; surely I will remember Thy wonders mikedem (of old, of long ago).
12 (13) I will meditate also on kol po’al (all work) of Thine, and consider Thy mighty deeds.
13 (14) Thy Derech, O Elohim, is bakodesh (in holiness). Who is so gadol El as Elohim?
14 (15) Thou art HaEl oseh peleh (the G-d that doest wonders); Thou hast declared Thy oz (strength) among the amim (peoples, nations).
15 (16) Thou hast with Thine zero’a (strong arm) redeemed Thy people, the Bnei Ya’akov and Yosef. Selah.
16 (17) The mayim saw Thee, O Elohim, the mayim saw Thee; they were afraid; the tehomot (ocean depths) also writhed.
17 (18) The clouds poured down mayim; the skies resounded in thunder; Thine khitzim (arrows, i.e., lightning bolts) also went forth
18 (19) The voice of Thy thunder was in the galgal (whirlwind); the lightning lit up the tevel (world); ha’aretz trembled and quaked.
19 (20) Thy derech is in the yam (sea), and Thy path is through the mayim rabbim (great waters), and Thy footsteps are not to be discerned.
20 (21) Thou didst lead Thy people like a tzon (flock) by the yad Moshe and Aharon.
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