לַמְנַצֵּחַ אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף שִׁיר׃   75:1

Psal. 75:1   A psalm of Asaph’s, a song for the leader al-tashheth:

We have here a sudden change of mood, one that is carried into the next psalm as well.  It may be that these two psalms were composed on a different occasion than were the previous ones of Asaph; however, see verses 3 and 4 for a different slant on the meaning that may have been intended here.  See Psal. 57:1 for the term al-tashheth.

הֹודִינוּ לךָ אֱלֹהִים הֹודִינוּ וְקָרֹוב שְׁמֶךָ סִפְּרוּ נִפְלְאֹותֶיךָ׃   75:2

Psal. 75:2   We give thanks to You, God,

                              we give thanks that Your name is near.

                      They declare Your wondrous acts.

The pronoun “they” in the third line refers to our thanks.

כִּי אֶקַּח מוֹעֵד אֲנִי מֵישָׁרִים אֶשְׁפֹּט׃   75:3

Psal. 75:3   “When I will bring the appointed time,

                                I shall judge the upright.”

נְמֹגִים אֶרֶץ וְכָל־יֹשְׁבֶיהָ אָנֹכִי תִכַּנְתִּי עַמּוּדֶיהָ סֶּלָה׃   75:4

Psal. 75:4   “The earth will be melting away,

                               and all its inhabitants.

                      I have tested its pillars.”            Selah.

These two verses, this one and the preceding one (as well as the last verse in this psalm), bathe this poem in a different light.  Is this psalm of a different time or merely of a different mood?  It seems to me that the psalmist may be reflecting on the future, when judgment will be rendered.  The times may be just as distressing as in the last few psalms, but the Lord may have lifted the psalmist out of his misery -- maybe only for a moment -- to contemplate glorious destiny.

אָמַרְתִּי לַהוֹלְלִים אַל־תָּהֹלּוּ וְלָרְשָׁעִים אַל־תָּרִימוּ קָרֶן׃   75:5

Psal. 75:5   I say to the boastful, “Do not boast,”

                                and to the wicked, “Do not lift up horn.”

אַל־תָּרִימוּ לַמָּרוֹם קַרְנְכֶם תְּדַבְּרוּ בְצַוָּאר עָתָק׃   75:6

Psal. 75:6   Do not raise your horn loftily;

                                you would speak with an arrogant neck,

כִּי לֹא מִמּוֹצָא וּמִמַּעֲרָב וְלֹא מִמִּדְבַּר הָרִים׃   75:7

Psal. 75:7   for exalting is not from the east or from the west,

                                and not from the wilderness.

כִּי־אֱלֹהִים שֹׁפֵט זֶה יַשְׁפִּיל וְזֶה יָרִים׃   75:8

Psal. 75:8   For God is Judge;

                                this one He might lay low

                      and that one He could lift up.

כִּי כוֹס בְּיַד־יְהוָה וְיַיִן חָמַר מָלֵא מֶסֶךְ וַיַּגֵּר מִזֶּה אַךְ־שְׁמָרֶיהָ יִמְצוּ יִשְׁתּוּ כֹּל רִשְׁעֵי־אָרֶץ׃   75:9

Psal. 75:9   For a cup is in the hand of the Lord,

                               and of foaming wine,

                      a full mixture that He pours down from this;

                               surely all the wicked of the earth shall drink,

                      shall drain its dregs.

וַאֲנִי אַגִּיד לְעֹלָם אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב׃   75:10

Psal. 75:10   Yet I, I will declare forever,

                                I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

וְכָל־קַרְנֵי רְשָׁעִים אֲגַדֵּעַ תְּרוֹמַמְנָה קַרְנוֹת צַדִּיק׃   75:11

Psal. 75:11   “And I shall cut off all the horns of the wicked,

                                the horns of any righteous one shall be lifted up.”

It’s interesting how the psalmist abruptly quotes words that he hears from the Lord.  It’s as if he is writing on the spot (so to speak) the words by which he has been inspired.  Very impressive!  And effective!

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