Psalms
Chapter 76
This psalm celebrates God defending Jerusalem, where an attacking army is stopped and its weapons are broken. The soldiers, horses, and riders lie still, and the earth goes quiet when God stands up to judge and to rescue humble people. The psalm ends by telling everyone nearby to keep their promises to God and bring him gifts, because even kings are afraid of him.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
1God is known in Judah. His name is great in Israel.
2In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
2His tent is in Salem, and he lives in Zion.
Salem is an old name for Jerusalem. Zion is the hill the city was built on.
3There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
3There he broke the flaming arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah.
"Selah" is a musical mark in the psalms. Nobody today knows exactly what it told the singers to do.
4Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.
4You shine with light. You are greater and grander than the mountains where the hunting is good.
"Mountains of prey" means hills where animals are hunted and killed. The psalm says God is greater than those famous heights.
5The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
5The brave soldiers lie robbed of everything. They sleep their last sleep. Not one strong man could lift a hand.
6At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
6God of Jacob, at your sharp word both horse and rider fell and lay still.
7Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
7You are the one to be feared. When you are angry, who can stand in front of you?
8Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
8From heaven you announced your decision. The earth was afraid and went quiet,
9When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
9when God stood up to judge, and to rescue every humble person on earth. Selah.
10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
10Even people's anger ends up bringing you praise. Whatever anger is left, you hold back.
11Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
11Make promises to the LORD your God, and then keep them. Let everyone around him bring gifts to the one who should be feared.
12He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.
12He breaks the proud spirit of rulers. Kings of the earth are afraid of him.
The KJV says God is "terrible" to kings. In 1611 that word meant someone who fills people with fear and awe, not someone who is bad at his job.
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