Psalms 75

¹To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

Thy name - Thy self; art present with us, and ready to help.

²When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.

Receive - The whole congregation, all the tribes.

³The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.

Dissolved - Or, destroyed; by intestine divisions and wars. I hear - I support it, by maintaining religion and justice, by setting up good magistrates, and encouraging good ministers, and good men, who are indeed the pillars of a nation.

⁴I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

I said - I charged them. Deal not - Desist from your practices. Lift not up - Do not carry yourselves scornfully and maliciously.

⁵Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

Lift not - A metaphor from untamed oxen, which will not bow their heads to receive the yoke. Stiff neck - With pride and contempt.

⁸For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

For - God is here compared to the master of a feast, who then used to distribute portions of meat and drink to the several guests. A cup - Of vengeance. Red - Such as the best wine of Judea was. Mixture - The wine is mingled not with water, but with strengthening and intoxicating ingredients. Dregs - The worst and most dreadful part of those tribulations. Shall wring - This dreadful draught was brought upon them by their own choice and wickedness.

⁹But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

Declare - The praises of God.

¹⁰All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Horns - Their honour and power, which they made an instrument of mischief. Will - When I shall be advanced to the throne. But - Good men shall be encouraged and promoted.