True Bible Study: Psalms 73-89

By Maura K. Hill

The Book of Psalms chapters 73 – 89 records many of King David’s prayers, songs, praise for the Lord God, and prophecy regarding the promised Christ.

It includes information about God’s Holy-place, mercy, truth, judgment, marvelous works, and His blessedness.

This book includes verses translated from the Greek old covenant writing, sometimes referred to as the Septuagint. Additionally, some comparisons to the Hebrew text are provided.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maura K. Hill
• Release date: Jun 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215022955

Maura K. Hill

Maura K. Hill was born and raised in Ireland. After working in Ireland and the UK for several years, she relocated to the United States in 1995. She began her formal education in Biblical Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew at Phillips Theological Seminary via the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma in 1996.  A diligent student of the Biblical Languages, Maura published her first Greek-to-English Translation and Study Guide to I Thessalonians in the Fall of 1997. Since then, she published many additional, original Greek-to-English translations and comprehensive study guides for the New and Old Testaments. She has also published numerous and unique Biblical research articles on various topics. Maura continues her diligent research of the Critical Greek Texts and Papyri. Her publications include: True Bible Study - Adam and Eve Genesis 1-5 Noah and the Flood Genesis 6-11 Abraham Genesis 12-25 Isaac and Jacob/Israel Genesis 26-36 Joseph and Judah Genesis 37-50 Moses leaving Egypt Exodus 1-14 Moses and the Law Exodus 15-23 Moses and the Holy Tent Exodus 24-40 Joshua enters the Promised Land Joshua 1-12 Joshua and Israel's Inheritance Joshua 13-24 Deborah, Gideon, Samson Book of Judges Ruth and God's blessings Book of Ruth Samuel and Saul First Samuel 1-15 Saul and David First Samuel 16-31 King David Second Samuel 1-24 Psalms 1-41 Psalms 42-72 Psalms 73-89 Psalms 90-106 Psalms 107-150 Esther and Mordechai Book of Esther Rebuilding the House of God Book of Ezra Rebuilding Jerusalem Book of Nehemiah Jonah and the Sign Matthew Mark Luke John Acts of the Apostles Romans I Corinthians II Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians and Philemon I and II Thessalonians I and II Timothy and Titus Hebrews James and Jude I and II Peter I, II, and III John Revelation of Jesus Christ Life, Death, and Resurrection Quantum spirit Christian, son of God

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True Bible Study®

Psalms

73 – 89

Word Translation

and

Study

Maura K. Hill

Copyright © 2023 Maura K. Hill

All rights reserved.

Revised: December 2023

The body of this work contains a Word Translation, Study material, and notes written by Maura K. Hill. Permission to quote passages of this book in teaching or in writing with notice of copyright is granted to the owners of a published copyrighted copy of this work.

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Contents:

Preface

Relevant Notes

Introduction

Psalm 73

Psalm 74

Psalm 75

Psalm 76

Psalm 77

Psalm 78

Psalm 79

Psalm 80

Psalm 81

Psalm 82

Psalm 83

Psalm 84

Psalm 85

Psalm 86

Psalm 87

Psalm 88

Psalm 89

Chart of Events

Book Titles by Maura K. Hill

Preface

Psalms 73 – 89 provide information about the following:

o God’s Holy-place

o Mercy and truth

o Judgment and marvelous works

o Shepherd and Helper

o Prayer and supplication

o Blessedness of the Lord God

This book includes verses translated from the Greek old covenant writing, sometimes referred to as the Septuagint. The Septuagint (also identified as: LXX) is a translation of the old Hebrew texts along with the spoken language; it was made by approximately seventy scholars in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus from about 285 to 247 B.C. Some comparisons to the traditional Masoretic Hebrew text (after 1 A.D.) are also provided in this book.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss or comment on this Word Translation and Study via the Contact link on https://www.TrueBibleStudy.com.

Thanks to God for His love and grace.

Maura K. Hill

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Relevant Notes

Unless otherwise stated, all scriptures are quoted from the following:

o The True Bible Study Word Translation (TBS) of the Book of Psalms 73 – 89 is translated from the Greek old covenant writing (Septuagint) by Maura K. Hill.

The various resources and reference materials are listed at https://www.truebiblestudy.com/bible-materials.

In the TBS Word Translation and Study:

o Words in a parenthesis () and italicized within a scripture verse are words inserted to help our English understanding of those words which are translated from Greek words.

o Words in a parenthesis () in the study of the scripture verse are words of explanation regarding the words prior to the parenthesis.

o Additional explanatory insertions within a scripture verse are enclosed in square brackets [] and italicized.

o Additional explanatory notes in the study of a scripture verse are enclosed in square brackets [] and are usually in relation to the Greek or Hebrew texts.

o A slash in the study of a scripture verse, such as: him/her, indicates an alternative word depending on the context.

o A dash, such as: go there – to Jerusalem, indicates that a certain word or phrase is particularly important or deserving of extra emphasis.

o Hyphenated words, such as: used-to-go, indicates that there is only one corresponding word in the Greek text.

o Non-English words are printed with English letters.

o I use an initial capital letter for all occurrences of the words Lord and Master when referring to either God or the Lord Jesus Christ due to my respect for them, therefore the reader will need to carefully consider the context of each particular usage to understand to whom that usage refers.

o Where the word spirit refers to God, I use an initial capital or upper-case S - Spirit. But when the word spirit refers to the gift of holy spirit, etc, I use a small or lower-case s - spirit.

o Underlined text is used for the English word but when translated from the Greek word alla to show that it implies a strong contrast to that-which has just previously been stated, and/or to strengthen a command.

o Underlined text is used for the singular form of the word you to distinguish it from the plural form of the word you which is not underlined.

o Underlined text is also used for emphasis.

o In order to communicate the fullness of the emphasis when the Greek definite article is repeated both with the noun and its adjective - for example: I Corinthians 15:4 the Greek is te hemera te trite, which literally means the day the third - I translate it as "the day, the third (day)."

o Verbs in the imperfect tense are translated with the words used-to and then the meaning of the verb.

o For example: used-to teach indicates that the one teaching spent time teaching, his action of teaching continued during a past time that is now finished for some reason, not that it was a quick one-time occurrence. The one teaching taught others taking time to teach, and he may have repeated his teaching at different times and in different ways. This tense is also used to historically describe past events relating what happened.

o Verbs in the perfect tense are translated from Greek with a superscript number 2 immediately following the verb - for example: it was written². This tense indicates an action done during a past time and which has a present continuing result, meaning it is still the same at the time the verb was spoken or written. Therefore, this example could be translated as: it was written and continues written.

o The noun love¹ or the verb to love¹ comes from the Greek word agape which is God’s kind of love.

When the Biblical writers wrote, there were no punctuation marks, no chapter or verse divisions indicated, etc, as we see them today in many of our English Bible translations and versions. Therefore we must read the whole context of each particular passage of Scripture for thought-content to more clearly understand the truth of what has been written.

Also, the original language was not English, and therefore when I may write that the writer said or wrote such and such, please understand that the writer actually spoke and wrote in the original language the equivalent to that-which I state in the English language to the best of my knowledge.

I recommend that while reading this book, you also have your usual Bible and Biblical study materials open, so as to compare verses and gain greater understanding of the truth of God’s Word.

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Introduction to Psalms 73 – 89

The Book of Psalms includes information about the words and actions of King David and prophecy regarding the Christ who would make salvation available, for example: Matthew 13:35 and John 10:34.

Psalms 73 – 89 correspond to the Book of Leviticus (the 3rd book of the Bible), and ends with the phrase: May it become! May it become! – with emphasis on God’s Holy-place, the location that has been made holy, sanctified, where He caused His name to be in the state of dwelling, where He would meet with certain members of mankind and manifest His presence, where He proclaims His salvation and pronounces His judgment.

A psalm refers to a song that is spoken in different tones while accompanied by a stringed instrument being touched, twanged, plucked, or played in commemoration of mercies received from God. David composed his psalms in agreement with the spirit that the Lord God had given to him. On many occasions, David helped King Saul to behave correctly by playing music while singing his psalms (refer to I Samuel 16:13-23). These psalms were also sung by other people during various events after they were written.

David wrote his psalms during the time of the old covenant. He was a type or pattern of the Christ, the promised seed of Genesis 3:15.

David himself experienced many events throughout his lifetime before his death – and the prophecies by David regarding the promised Christ either came to pass while Jesus Christ was alive before his death, or following his resurrection now living with eternal life, or they will come to pass completely at the future time recorded in the Book of Revelation.

The genealogy of the Christ includes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Phares, Esrom, Aram, Aminadab, Naasson (refer to Exodus 6:23), and his son Salmon who begat Boaz with Rahab (refer to Joshua 6:25), Boaz begat Obed with Ruth, Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David the king (refer to Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38).

Many of David’s words and phrases are figures of speech to emphatically convey the quality and effect of whom or what he is referring to. Also, many of the verbs are in the aorist tense in the Greek text, and this is why the verbs may be translated as a past event – however, this tense can refer to any time past, present, or future emphasizing that once a specific action is done then it becomes a past reality.

David knew that the Lord God was the only One Who could do many things for him, such as saving him, rescuing him, etc, and therefore David frequently used the imperative tense when addressing Him. The Lord Jesus Christ did not exist during David’s lifetime, and there was no other human-being who could help David; he needed the Lord God’s intervention during various situations.

The Greek word diapsalma, or Hebrew word selah, is included at the end of many verses to indicate a musical interlude or break through that psalm following a raising of the voice when singing a particular phrase or phrases in a psalm – it helps to pause and consider those words sung in a higher level before continuing with the next connected or linked phrase. In the True Bible Study translation, the word consider is used to encourage us to pause and think carefully about what is written in the previous phrase(s) before continuing with the next phrase.

The psalms were recorded by David himself or by his recorders, writers, scribes, reminders (refer to II Samuel 8:15-18, 20:24-26). Also, the Greek and Hebrew texts vary as to the words to be included in some of the psalms.

Many of the psalms include words to form a title of introduction (superscription) as to the context of when they were first sung or written – and many include words to form a conclusion (subscription). Some texts place these words as one verse or part of verses either at the beginning or ending of a psalm, and therefore the psalms may vary in verse number. All of the titles and conclusions were not part of the original psalms but they were added by the speaker, writer, translator, or recorder of those psalms.

In this book, the True Bible Study translation includes these words to help the reader regarding the historical aspect of a particular psalm, where relevant titles or conclusions are written in the Greek text.

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Holy-place

God is good

Word Translation

Psalm 73

⁷³:¹(a)(A psalm); for Asaph.

.1(b)As good (is) God to Israel, to the straight-people in heart.

.2But my feet were shaken beside a small-amount; my steps were poured-out beside a little-amount – .3because I was jealous on the lawless-people, viewing-with-attention (the) peace of sinners, .4because there is not a not-nodding-assent to their death, and solidity (is) in their whipping; .5they are not in labors of men, and they will not be whipped with men.

.6Because-of-this the arrogance strongly-held them; they clothed-themselves-with their unrighteousness and lack-of-reverence; .7their unrighteousness will go-out as from fat; they went-through into a covenant of a heart;

.8they throughly-mentally-perceived and uttered-forth in evilness; they uttered-forth unrighteousness into the height; .9they put their mouth into heaven, and their tongue went-through on the earth.

.10Because-of-this My people will turn-back in-this-place, and full days will be found for them, .11and they said, How God knew! and Since there is knowledge in the Highest.

.12Look!, these sinners also are found; they held-down of wealth into the age.

.13And I said, Consequently, futilely I made my heart righteous, and I washed my hands among innocent-people – .14even I became having been whipped² the whole day, and my proof (became) into the early (mornings);

.15if I used-to-say, I will tell thus – look!, I rejected-together² the generation of Your sons; .16and I took-from-underneath (into my mind) to know this: labor is before me – .17until I may go into the Holy-place of God, and I may understand into the last-things of them.

.18Besides, You put for them because-of the deceitfulnesses; You threw them down in being lifted-up.

.19How they became into desertification suddenly! They failed; they destroyed-themselves because-of their lawlessness; .20as-though a dream of (someone) rising-up-out, Lord, You will despise their image in Your city.

.21Because my heart was burned-out, and my kidneys were changed – .22and I being despised, and I did not know; I became animalistic with You – .23and I (am) with You continually; You strongly-held my hand, the right (hand);

.24You guided me in Your deliberate-determination, and You took me towards-Yourself with glory; .25for what begins for me in the heaven, and what did I intend on the earth? – from You; .26my heart failed, and my flesh – God of my heart, even God (is) my part into the age;

.27because look!, the (people) distancing themselves from You will destroy-themselves; You wholly-destroyed all the (people) fornicating from You.

.28But it is the good-thing for me to glue-myself-together towards God, to put my hope in the Lord – to announce all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

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Study

Psalm 73:1:

⁷³:¹(a)(A psalm); for Asaph.

.1(b)As good (is) God to Israel, to the straight-people in heart.

The title (superscription) states that Psalm 73 was written for Asaph (also refer to Psalm 50:1). David composed this psalm in agreement with the spirit that the Lord God had given to him, and then it was to be given to Asaph, who was a Levite and one of the three leaders or directors of singing with musical instruments.

As good (the quality of that-which issues from God Who is the Good, and He issues His essence of goodness setting the standard to be conformed to by others – how/so perfectly admirable) is…

o God [in the Greek language the word translated God is the singular noun Theos, which refers to the only true God emphasizing that He is the First, Superior or Ultimate One, the One Who has power, executes judgment, and emanates what He is, His power and light – in the Hebrew language this word is a plural noun adding emphasis to His superiority in all words and actions (encompassing everything that He is, the only true God); Elohim, the Creator in relation to His creations; He should be acknowledged to be in the highest position of all]

o to/for Israel (referring to the descendants of Israel, one group of people, those who are strong with God via the spirit category),

…specifically to/for the straight-people in heart (every one of those who are level in the correct direction or course of behavior within the sphere of action of the center or core of their beings; the singular form of heart in this phrase emphasizes the same state, as one group or body of people having one heart).

Israel

The first record of the name Israel is in Genesis 32:27-29 when God changed the name of the man known as Jacob to Israel so as to indicate that he was strong with God via the spirit category during that event.

The 12 biological sons of Israel were known as the sons of Israel to identify them when their actions were being strong with God via the spirit category just as their father.

Likewise, any of the descendants of the 12 sons were known as the sons of Israel to identify them as the group of people both male and female collectively who were descendants of the man named Israel – when their actions aligned with what God instructed them to do, which was when they were being strong with God via the spirit category.

As time progressed, the name the sons of Israel became a title only to identify those descendants who should have behaved in accordance with that name, which emphasized their forefather Jacob’s walk with/for God via the spirit category – however, on many occasions those descendants did not behave correctly and they rejected the only true God – the Lord God of them.

Levites

Levi was one of the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel. Levi’s descendants (Levites) inherited the Lord God – in the sense that their inheritance was exactly as He said regarding them – they received the priesthood via Aaron from the Lord God whereby they would represent the people before God, making necessary offerings towards God on behalf of the people (refer to Exodus 28:1) – and those who were not of Aaron’s line of descent received the work of rendering service to/for Him.

Not all Levites were priests.

God provided food and housing for all of them so as to be dedicated to serving Him, including areas where their flocks could graze.

The Levites (refer to Genesis 29:34, 46:11; Exodus 4:14, 6:16-27, 37:19 (38:21); Numbers chapters 3 and 4; I Chronicles chapter 6, 24:1 and 2) received 6 cities of refuge and 42 cities to inhabit and the suburbs (refer to Numbers 35:1-8; Joshua 20:1-3 and 21:1-3).

[Reference: I Chronicles 9:15, 16:4-7 and 37, 25:1-7; II Chronicles 5:12, 29:12-14, 35:15; Psalm 7:10, 32:11, 36:10, 50:1, 64:10; Nehemiah 12:46; Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19.]

Verses 2-5:

.2But my feet were shaken beside a small-amount; my steps were poured-out beside a little-amount –

.3because I was jealous on the lawless-people, viewing-with-attention (the) peace of sinners,

.4because there is not a not-nodding-assent to their death, and solidity (is) in their whipping; .5they are not in labors of men, and they will not be whipped with men.

In these verses, David gives himself as an example of someone who does not view other people and their everyday living of life from God’s viewpoint, someone who does not understand that God is good to Israel and to the straight-people in heart.

My feet were shaken (caused to rock in a waving motion, agitated to move to-and-fro, in the sense of being unsteady in my movement or actions) beside a small-amount (alongside, by the side of a small quantity, for a short interval of time)…

…my steps were poured-out (the steps that I take during the everyday living of my life were shed forth, in the sense of becoming weaker as slipping off course; it is interesting that the Greek word diabema translated steps comes from the root-word that can be translated as judgment-seat which is a step or raised-platform reached by steps, an area where someone, such as a judge would speak-from to the assembly of people present) beside a little-amount (alongside, by the side of littleness, briefly, shortly, for a little or few steps)…

o because I was jealous (zealous in the bad sense, I had a boiling or vehement passion)

o on the lawless-people (resting or based upon those who perform actions that do not abide by God’s law, who are unlawful, without His law, in violation-of, non-observance or transgression of His law),

o specifically I was viewing with attention (attentively viewing, contemplating in my mind)

o the peace of sinners (the evidence of peaceful wholeness, tranquil harmony, being without any strife or disagreement, which sinful people display, those who miss the mark of what God says, swerve from His Word, perform aberration from God’s Word, God’s will, God’s law, God’s precepts),

…because there is not a not-nodding-assent (the double negative emphasizes this point – definitely there is no lack of them giving consent, they do not refuse to shake their heads in agreement) to their death (with the end of their lives, the point of dying, being without life, no life – the prospect of their death does not stop their bad behavior)…

…and solidity (they have firmness, stability, lack of movement) in their whipping (during the time when they receive any scourging, flogging – punishment for their bad behavior has no effect on them, they do not stop it)…

…they are not in labors (the word labor literally means a beating but in this context it means exerting wearisome effort – they do not get involved in actions that require exerted effort, as if beating themselves out physically by what they are doing, toils) of men (pertaining to members of mankind who labor to behave according to God’s law [the Greek word translated men is anthropos and does not necessarily specify gender, male or female when taken as a particular group; the Hebrew word ish or enosh is used in some versions which indicates male human-beings or the general term for mankind emphasizing their limitation and low social rank relative to God])…

…and they will not be whipped with men (scourged, flogged, receive punishment for transgressing God’s law in company and association with the members of mankind who endeavor to live according to it).

[Reference: Psalm 32:10.]

Verses 6-9:

.6Because-of-this the arrogance strongly-held them; they clothed-themselves-with their unrighteousness and lack-of-reverence;

.7their unrighteousness will go-out as from fat; they went-through into a covenant of a heart;

.8they throughly-mentally-perceived and uttered-forth in evilness; they uttered-forth unrighteousness into the height;

.9they put their mouth into heaven, and their tongue went-through on the earth.

Because-of-this (on account of this, for the reason described in verses 4 and 5 above)…

o the arrogance (the state of being haughty, giving the impression of superiority or being-over others which is evidenced by people in an overbearing manner)

o strongly-held them (exerted its forceful-strength and held them in their bad behavior);

o they clothed-themselves-with (threw or cast around themselves as a vesture, wrap, covering)

o their unrighteousness (the quality of injustice, unjustness, the state of being wrong, of not being right/just)

o and lack-of-reverence (the quality of not being reverential towards God, being un-reverential, not being respectful in service towards and for Him);

…their unrighteousness will go-out as from fat (in comparison to coming out from the fatty tissue of flesh, considered to be the best parts)…

…they went-through (came or passed throughout their lives) into a covenant of a heart (directed to the act of binding an agreement, thoroughly putting it together consisting of what was in the center of their beings – with a view to fulfill their heart’s desires; the word heart literally means: the organ which keeps the fleshy body alive by circulating the blood; but figuratively in this context it means: the center or core of their beings, the seat of their whole personal selves and living as one group or body of people having one heart)…

o they throughly-mentally-perceived (their bad behavior caused them to purposefully or thoroughly observe with their minds, see to the end of knowing mentally, intellectually)

o and they uttered-forth (were in the state of speaking)

o in evilness (active malignancy, exercised badness);

…they uttered-forth unrighteousness (as verse 7 above) into the height (directed to the area upwards, a high or exalted position, as being superior to anything else)…

…they put their mouth (placed, set the part of their body where they openly express their thoughts by words; the singular form of mouth is used to emphasize that they were all in the same state) into heaven (directed to the sky above the earth, which is God’s location today from mankind’s view)…

…and their tongue (which they used to form various words; again this word is in the singular form emphasizing that they were all in the same state) went-through on the earth (came throughout upon the land, ground; referring to mankind’s location).

The repetition of the word unrighteousness in verses 6-8 above gives great emphasis to the fact that their behavior was definitely unrighteous from God’s viewpoint.

Verses 10-12:

.10Because-of-this My people will turn-back in-this-place, and