לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינֹת מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף שִׁיר

For the chief musician, on stringed instruments, a psalm by Asaf, a song.

נוֹדָע בִּיהוּדָה אֱלֹהִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל גָּדוֹל שְׁמוֹ

God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.

וַיְהִי בְשָׁלֵם סוּכּוֹ וּמְעוֹנָתוֹ בְצִיּוֹן

His abode is in Shalem, another name for Jerusalem, His dwelling place in Zion.

שָׁמָּה שִׁבַּר רִשְׁפֵי קָשֶׁת מָגֵן וְחֶרֶב וּמִלְחָמָה סֶלָה

There, near Jerusalem, He broke the sparks of the enemy’s bow, a poetic way of referring to arrows, and there He also broke the enemy’s shield and sword and war, Selah.

נָאוֹר אַתָּה אַדִּיר מֵהַרְרֵי טָרֶף

You, God, are radiant, mightier than mountains of prey, tall and threatening mountains in which beasts of prey roam. All of these are subservient to God.

אֶשְׁתּוֹלְלוּ אַבִּירֵי לֵב נָמוּ שְׁנָתָם וְלֹא מָצְאוּ כָל אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל יְדֵיהֶם

The stout-hearted men of the enemy’s camp ran rampant and were inattentive to what was happening around them. Alternatively, they fell into a stupor, and this prevented them from recognizing the impending doom, and warriors could not find their hands. The enemies, taken by surprise, were helpless to respond.

מִגַּעֲרָתְךָ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב נִרְדָּם וְרֶכֶב וָסוּס

At Your rebuke, God of Jacob, it, the enemy’s camp, fell into deep sleep, along with the chariot driver and horse. In truth, even if they had remained awake, they would have been powerless against You.

אַתָּה נוֹרָא אַתָּה וּמִי יַעֲמֹד לְפָנֶיךָ מֵאָז אַפֶּךָ

As for You, You are awesome; who can stand before You at the time of Your anger?

מִשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמַעְתָּ דִּין אֶרֶץ יָרְאָה וְשָׁקטָה

From heaven You pronounced judgment. The earth was frightened at God’s might, and then it became calm, after He destroyed the enemy,

בְּקוּם לַמִּשְׁפָּט אֱלֹהִים לְהוֹשִׁיעַ כָּל עַנְוֵי אֶרֶץ סֶלָה

when God arose in judgment, to deliver all the humble of the earth, Selah.

כִּי חֲמַת אָדָם תּוֹדֶךָּ שְׁאֵרִית חֵמֹת תַּחְגֹּר

For the wrathful man will praise You. Violent aggressors will realize that they are powerless against You, and they will have no choice but to surrender and be grateful for their survival. You stem the remnants of wrath. You will rein in what remains of their wrath, allowing it expression only when You wish it.

נִדְרוּ וְשַׁלְּמוּ לַה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם כָּל סְבִיבָיו יוֹבִילוּ שַׁי לַמּוֹרָא

The psalmist concludes by imploring everyone to give thanks to God for their salvation: Make vows to the Lord your God in thanksgiving for His salvation and fulfill them; let all who are around Him bring gifts to the Awesome One.

יִבְצֹר רוּחַ נְגִידִים נוֹרָא לְמַלְכֵי אָרֶץ

He will cut off the spirit of rulers, and all will admit that His might is great, inspiring awe in kings of the earth.