PSALMS

The Bible – Old Testament

Chapter 1

1 ¹ ² Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers.

2 ³Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God’s law they study day and night.

3 They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers.

4 ⁴ But not the wicked! They are like chaff driven by the wind.

5 Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment, nor will sinners in the assembly of the just.

6 The LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.

1 [Psalm 1] A preface to the whole Book of Psalms, contrasting with striking similes the destiny of the good and the wicked. The psalm views life as activity, as choosing either the good or the bad. Each “way” brings its inevitable consequences. The wise through their good actions will experience rootedness and life, and the wicked, rootlessness and death.

2 [1] Those: literally, “the man.” That word is used here and in many of the Psalms as typical, and therefore is translated “they.” The way: a common biblical term for manner of living or moral conduct (⇒ Psalm 32:8; ⇒ 101:2, 6; ⇒ Proverb 2:20; ⇒ 1 Kings 8:36).

3 [2] The law of the LORD: either the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, or, more probably, divine teaching or instruction.

4 [4] The wicked: those who by their actions distance themselves from God’s life-giving presence.

Psalms – Chapter 22

The Bible – Old Testament Chapter 22 1 1 2 For the leader; according to «The deer of the dawn.» A psalm of David. 2 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish? 3 My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief. 4 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the glory of Israel. 5 In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted and you rescued them. 6 To you… Seguir leyendo Psalms – Chapter 22

Psalms – Chapter 33

The Bible – Old Testament Psalms Chapter 33 1 1 Rejoice, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting. 2 Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise. 3 Sing to God a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant. 4 For the LORD’S word is true; all his works are trustworthy. 5 The LORD loves justice and right and fills the earth with goodness. 6 2 By the LORD’S word the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host. 7 3 The waters of the sea were gathered as in a bowl; in cellars the deep was confined. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all who dwell in the world show reverence. 9 For he spoke, and… Seguir leyendo Psalms – Chapter 33

Psalms – Chapter 112

The Bible – Old Testament Psalms Chapter 112 1 1 Hallelujah! 2 Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in God’s commands. 2 Their descendants shall be mighty in the land, generation upright and blessed. 3 3 Wealth and riches shall be in their homes; their prosperity shall endure forever. 4 They shine through the darkness, a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and just. 5 All goes well for those gracious in lending, who conduct their affairs with justice. 6… Seguir leyendo Psalms – Chapter 112

The Bible – Old Testament

Psalms

Chapter 97

1 ¹ The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad.

2 Cloud and darkness surround the Lord; justice and right are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes before him; everywhere it consumes the foes.

4 Lightning illumines the world; the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim God’s justice; all peoples see his glory.

7 ² All who serve idols are put to shame, who glory in worthless things; all gods bow down before you.

8 Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice because of your judgments, O LORD.

9 You, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods.

10 The LORD loves those who hate evil, protects the lives of the faithful, rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light dawns for the just; gladness, for the honest of heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD, you just, and praise his holy name.

1 [Psalm 97] The hymn begins with God appearing in a storm, a traditional picture of some ancient Near Eastern gods (⇒ Psalm 97:1-6); cf ⇒ Psalm 18:8-16; ⇒ Micah 1:3-4; ⇒ Hebrews 3:3-15. Israel rejoices in the overthrowing of idol worshipers and their gods (⇒ Psalm 97:7-9) and the rewarding of the faithful righteous (⇒ Psalm 97:10-12).

2 [7] All gods: divine beings thoroughly subordinate to Israel’s God. The Greek translates «angels,» an interpretation adopted by ⇒ Hebrews 1

The Bible – Old Testament

Psalms

Chapter 110

1 ¹ A psalm of David. ² The LORD says to you, my lord: «Take your throne at my righthand, while I make your enemies your footstool.»

2 The scepter of your sovereign might the LORD will extend from Zion. The LORD says: «Rule over your enemies!

3 ³ Yours is princely power from the day of your birth. In holy splendor before the daystar, like the dew I begot you.»

4 ⁴ The LORD has sworn and will not waver: «Like Melchizedek you are a priest forever.»

5 At your right hand is the Lord, who crushes kings on the day of wrath,

6 Who, robed in splendor, judges nations, crushes heads across the wide earth,

7 ⁵ Who drinks from the brook by the wayside and thus holds high the head.

1 [Psalm 110] A royal psalm in which a court singer recites three oracles in which God assures the king that his enemies are conquered (⇒ Psalm 110:1-2), makes the king «son» in traditional adoption language (⇒ Psalm 110:3), gives priestly status to the king and promises to be with him in future military ventures (⇒ Psalm 110:4-7).

2 [1] The LORD says to you, my lord: literally, «The LORD says to my lord,» a polite form of address of an inferior to a superior. Cf ⇒ 1 Sam 25:25; ⇒ 2 Sam 1:10. The court singer refers to the king. Jesus in the synoptic gospels (⇒ Matthew 22:41-46 and parallels) takes the psalmist to be David and hence «my lord» refers to the messiah, who must be someone greater than David. Your footstool: in ancient times victorious kings put their feet on the prostrate bodies of their enemies.

3 [3] Like the dew I begot you: an adoption formula as in ⇒ Psalm 2:7; ⇒ 89:27-28. Before the daystar: possibly an expression for before the world began (⇒ Proverb 8:22).

4 [4] Like Melchizedek: Melchizedek was the ancient king of Salem (Jerusalem) who blessed Abraham (⇒ Genesis 14:18-20); like other kings of the time he performed priestly functions. Hebrews 7 sees in Melchizedek a type of Christ.

5 [7] Who drinks from the brook by the wayside: the meaning is uncertain. Some see an allusion to a rite of royal consecration at the Gihon spring (cf ⇒ 1 Kings 1:33, ⇒ 38). Others find here an image of the divine warrior (or king) pursuing enemies so relentlessly that he does not stop long enough to eat and drink.

The Bible – Old Testament

Psalms

Chapter 1

1

1 2 Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers.

2

3 Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God’s law they study day and night.

3

They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers.

4

4 But not the wicked! They are like chaff driven by the wind.

5

Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment, nor will sinners in the assembly of the just.

6

The LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.

2 [1] Those: literally, “the man.” That word is used here and in many of the Psalms as typical, and therefore is translated “they.” The way: a common biblical term for manner of living or moral conduct (⇒ Psalm 32:8; ⇒ 101:2, 6; ⇒ Proverb 2:20; ⇒ 1 Kings 8:36).

3 [2] The law of the LORD: either the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, or, more probably, divine teaching or instruction.

4 [4] The wicked: those who by their actions distance themselves from God’s life-giving presence.

The Bible – Old Testament

Psalms

Chapter 97

1

1 The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad.

2

Cloud and darkness surround the Lord; justice and right are the foundation of his throne.

3

Fire goes before him; everywhere it consumes the foes.

4

Lightning illumines the world; the earth sees and trembles.

5

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.

6

The heavens proclaim God’s justice; all peoples see his glory.

7

2 All who serve idols are put to shame, who glory in worthless things; all gods bow down before you.

8

Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice because of your judgments, O LORD.

9

You, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods.

10

The LORD loves those who hate evil, protects the lives of the faithful, rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

11

Light dawns for the just; gladness, for the honest of heart.

12

Rejoice in the LORD, you just, and praise his holy name.

2 [7] All gods: divine beings thoroughly subordinate to Israel’s God. The Greek translates «angels,» an interpretation adopted by ⇒ Hebrews 1

The Bible – Old Testament

Psalms

Chapter 110

1

1 A psalm of David. 2 The LORD says to you, my lord: «Take your throne at my righthand, while I make your enemies your footstool.»

2

The scepter of your sovereign might the LORD will extend from Zion. The LORD says: «Rule over your enemies!

3

3 Yours is princely power from the day of your birth. In holy splendor before the daystar, like the dew I begot you.»

4

4 The LORD has sworn and will not waver: «Like Melchizedek you are a priest forever.»

5

At your right hand is the Lord, who crushes kings on the day of wrath,

6

Who, robed in splendor, judges nations, crushes heads across the wide earth,

7

5 Who drinks from the brook by the wayside and thus holds high the head.

3 [3] Like the dew I begot you: an adoption formula as in ⇒ Psalm 2:7; ⇒ 89:27-28. Before the daystar: possibly an expression for before the world began (⇒ Proverb 8:22).

4 [4] Like Melchizedek: Melchizedek was the ancient king of Salem (Jerusalem) who blessed Abraham (⇒ Genesis 14:18-20); like other kings of the time he performed priestly functions. Hebrews 7 sees in Melchizedek a type of Christ.

¹ ² Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers.

³Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God’s law they study day and night.

⁴ But not the wicked! They are like chaff driven by the wind.

¹ The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad.

² All who serve idols are put to shame, who glory in worthless things; all gods bow down before you.

¹ A psalm of David. ² The LORD says to you, my lord: «Take your throne at my righthand, while I make your enemies your footstool.»

³ Yours is princely power from the day of your birth. In holy splendor before the daystar, like the dew I begot you.»

⁴ The LORD has sworn and will not waver: «Like Melchizedek you are a priest forever.»

⁵ Who drinks from the brook by the wayside and thus holds high the head.