Psalm 76

Psalm 76 is the 76th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "In Judah is God known; His name is great in Israel". The Book of Psalms forms part of the Ketuvim section of the Hebrew Bible and part of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 75. In Latin, it is known as "Notus in Judaea". It is one of the psalms of Asaph. It refers to the "Majesty of God in Judgment". The Jerusalem Bible regards it as an "ode to God the awe-inspiring".

This psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music, including in works in German by Heinrich Schütz, and in Latin by Marc-Antoine Charpentier and Jean-Baptiste Lully.

Hebrew
The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

King James Version
The following is the full English text of the Psalm from the King James Bible.
 * To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.


 * 1) In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
 * 2) In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
 * 3) There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
 * 4) Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.
 * 5) The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
 * 6) At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
 * 7) Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
 * 8) Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
 * 9) When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
 * 10) Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
 * 11) Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
 * 12) He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

Verse numbering
In the Hebrew Bible, Psalm 76:1 comprises the designation
 * To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. (KJV)

From then on verses 2–13 in the Hebrew text correspond to verses 1–12 in English versions.

Commentary
This psalm shares some similarities with Psalms 46 and 48, and has been interpreted as: The division of the text (e.g., in the New Revised Standard Version) is usually:
 * 1) a celebration of Israelite victory over their enemies
 * 2) a part of the New Year Festival in Jerusalem
 * 3) a prophecy of God's future victory,
 * 4) a post-exilic praise.
 * 1) verses 1–3: praise God who chose Zion as his dwelling and defended his city
 * 2) verses 4–6: describe God's victory
 * 3) verses 7–9: portray 'a judge who saves the humble'
 * 4) verses 10–12: declare that all human beings will worship YHWH and tell them to perform their vows.

According to Gordon Churchyard in the EasyEnglish Translation of the Psalms, this psalm explains that Judah and Israel are both names for God's chosen people. The Jerusalem Bible suggests that the psalm "apparently refers to the defeat of Sennacherib in 701 BC at the gates of Jerusalem": see also Assyrian siege of Jerusalem.

The Sela in verses 3 and 9 provides a 'threefold structure' with the middle section focusing on the 'description of God'.

Judaism
This psalm is recited on the first day of Sukkot.

Book of Common Prayer
In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the fifteenth day of the month.

Musical settings
Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 76 in a metred version in German, "In Juda ist der Herr bekannt", SWV 173, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.

Marc-Antoine Charpentier set :


 * Notus in Judea Deus H.179, for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo (1681),
 * Notus in Judea Deus H.219, for soloists, chorus, flutes, strings and continuo (? early1690s).

Jean-Baptiste Lully set it as a motet, Notus in Judea Deus, LWV 77.