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Christian prayer

Psalm 76

Psalm 76 from the Bible, with the original text and its meaning.

  • 12 verses
  • Under a minute to recite
  • From the Bible
  1. 1

    To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.

  2. 2

    In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

  3. 3

    There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.

  4. 4

    Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.

  5. 5

    The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.

  6. 6

    At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

  7. 7

    Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

  8. 8

    Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,

  9. 9

    When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

  10. 10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  11. 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. 12

    He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

The Hebrew original

1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ בִּנְגִינֹ֑ת מִזְמ֖וֹר לְאָסָ֣ף שִֽׁיר׃

2 נוֹדָ֣ע בִּֽיהוּדָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל גָּד֥וֹל שְׁמֽוֹ׃

3 וַיְהִ֣י בְשָׁלֵ֣ם סֻכּ֑וֹ וּמְע֖וֹנָת֣וֹ בְצִיּֽוֹן׃

4 שָׁ֭מָּה שִׁבַּ֣ר רִשְׁפֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת מָגֵ֬ן וְחֶ֖רֶב וּמִלְחָמָ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃

5 נָ֭אוֹר אַתָּ֥ה אַדִּ֗יר מֵֽהַרְרֵי־טָֽרֶף׃

6 אֶשְׁתּוֹלְל֨וּ ׀ אַבִּ֣ירֵי לֵ֭ב נָמ֣וּ שְׁנָתָ֑ם וְלֹא־מָצְא֖וּ כָל־אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֣יִל יְדֵיהֶֽם׃

7 מִ֭גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב נִ֝רְדָּ֗ם וְרֶ֣כֶב וָסֽוּס׃

8 אַתָּ֤ה ׀ נ֥וֹרָא אַ֗תָּה וּמִֽי־יַעֲמֹ֥ד לְפָנֶ֗יךָ מֵאָ֥ז אַפֶּֽךָ׃

9 מִ֭שָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמַ֣עְתָּ דִּ֑ין אֶ֖רֶץ יָֽרְאָ֣ה וְשָׁקָֽטָה׃

10 בְּקוּם־לַמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט אֱלֹהִ֑ים לְהוֹשִׁ֖יעַ כָּל־עַנְוֵי־אֶ֣רֶץ סֶֽלָה׃

11 כִּֽי־חֲמַ֣ת אָדָ֣ם תּוֹדֶ֑ךָּ שְׁאֵרִ֖ית חֵמֹ֣ת תַּחְגֹּֽר׃

12 נִֽדֲר֣וּ וְשַׁלְּמוּ֮ לַיהוָ֪ה אֱֽלֹהֵ֫יכֶ֥ם כָּל־סְבִיבָ֑יו יוֹבִ֥ילוּ שַׁ֝֗י לַמּוֹרָֽא׃

13 יִ֭בְצֹר ר֣וּחַ נְגִידִ֑ים נ֝וֹרָ֗א לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 76 in personal prayer or communal worship to praise God's majesty and justice. It can also be used when praying for peace or reflecting on the limits of human power. In the Christian tradition, its account of weapons being broken invites trust in God rather than military strength.

  • Personal prayer
  • Communal worship
  • Praying for peace
  • Praise

Where it comes from

Psalm 76 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible, a collection of prayers and songs inherited by Christians from ancient Israel. Its heading associates it with Asaph. It celebrates God as known in Judah and dwelling in Zion, and portrays God as a judge who saves the oppressed.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 76

How many verses are in Psalm 76?

Psalm 76 has 12 verses.

What does Psalm 76 mean?

It praises God's majesty and authority over earthly powers. Its images of broken weapons and divine judgment emphasize peace, reverence and the defense of the oppressed.

Who wrote Psalm 76?

The psalm's heading associates it with Asaph, a figure linked with sacred music in the Bible. This attribution does not establish its precise author or date.

What language was Psalm 76 written in?

Psalm 76 was written in Hebrew, the language of most of the Book of Psalms.

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