To the chief Musician, Al-tashĥet, A Psalm of Asaf, A Poem.

For the conductor — Do not destroy [Israel in the exile] — a psalm of Asaf, a song.

To Thee, O God, we give thanks; we give thanks; for Thy name is near; men declare Thy wondrous works.

We have thanked You, O G d [(for the good)]; we have thanked You [(for the ill)], and Your name is [always] close [(to us, in our mouths)]. [Your generations] have related Your wonders [always].

Surely I shall take the appointed time; I will judge with equity.

When I take [i.e., celebrate] a festival, [I do not indulge in frivolity, but] I judge what is just [i.e., I take it to heart to praise You in accordance with the nature of that festival].

When the earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved, I bear up the pillars of it. (Sela.)

[On the day of the giving of the Torah, when] the earth and all its dwellers were melting [with fear, least the condition that You made with the creation — "If Israel does not accept the Torah, you [the creation] shall revert to nothingness" —], I [Israel] established its pillars forever [by saying (Exodus 24:7): "We shall do and we shall hear."]

I said to the arrogant, Deal not arrogantly! and to the wicked, Lift not the horn.

I said to the mockers [(the evil ones, who confound Israel)]: Do not mock; and to the wicked: Do not raise your horn [in rebellion against the Almighty].

Lift not your horn on high: speak not with an insolent neck.

Do not lift your horn on high; [do not] speak with brazen neck.

For judgment comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert peaks:

For not from east or west, and not from the desert [(which you cross in caravans in pursuit of wealth)] does lifting come.

but God is the judge: he puts one down, and sets up another.

But G d judges [(you for every evil you have done)]. This one [(the proud)] He lowers, and that one [(the lowly)] He exalts.

For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, with foaming wine; it is full of mixture; and he pours out of the same: but its dregs, shall all the wicked of the earth drain and drink.

For the [poisoned] cup is in the hand of the L rd — strong wine, fully admixed [(for all of the idolators)]. And from this He pours. Only [(the wicked, and not the righteous)] will drain its dregs. All the wicked of the earth will drink [of it].

But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Ya῾aqov.

And I shall [then] speak forever [(of His vengeance and His might)]. I shall sing to the G d of Jacob.

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

And all the horns of the wicked [Esav (viz. Ezekiel 29:14)] will I cut off, [and] the horns [i.e., the glory (viz., Israel)] of the righteous One will be uplifted.