Psalms

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Psalm 73

1 A psalm by Asaph. Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure. 2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me. 3 For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they suffer no pain; their bodies are strong and well fed. 5 They are immune to the trouble common to men; they do not suffer as other men do. 6 Arrogance is their necklace, and violence covers them like clothing. 7 Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful. 8 They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence. 9 They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth.⁠ 10 Therefore they have more than enough food to eat and even suck up the water of the sea. 11 They say, “How does God know what we do? Is the Most High aware of what goes on?” 12 Take a good look. This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer. 13 I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and washed my hands in innocence.²⁵⁠ 14 I suffer all day long and am punished every morning.” 15 If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your people. 16 When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me. 17 Then I entered the precincts of God’s temple and understood the destiny of the wicked. 18 Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin. 19 How desolate they become in a mere moment. Terrifying judgments make their demise complete. 20 They are like a dream after one wakes up. O Lord, when you awake you will despise them. 21 Yes, my spirit was bitter, and my insides felt sharp pain. 22 I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you. 23 But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will take me^* to a position of honor.⁠ 25 Whom do I have in heaven but you? On earth there is no one I desire but you. 26 My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability. 27 Yes, look! Those far from you die; you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.

Texts in conversation

Compare KTU 1.5 II:2 and Psalm 73:9

Ancient Near East, Ugaritic · Hebrew Bible

Summary

Psalm 73 gives arrogant people the vast mouth associated with Mot in the Baal Cycle, making their claims to power over heaven and earth as threatening as Death itself.

Passages

KTU 1.5 II:2

Ancient Near East, Ugaritic · Cuneiform Texts from Ugarit

[…] He extends a lip to the earth, a lip to the heavens, he extends a tongue to the stars. Baal must enter his belly, down into hs mouth he must go, since he scorched the olive, the produce of the earth, and the fruit of the trees. Valiant Baal was afraid of him; Valiant Warrior was in dread of him. Depart, say to divine Mot, declare to the Beloved of El, the hero: Message of Valiant Baal, word of Valiant Warrior: Greetings, O divine Mot, your servant am I, and forever. The gods departed and did not stay. Then they set their faces towards divine Mot (death), towards his city Muddy, a pit the seat of his enthronement, a crevice the land of his inheritance. They lifted lip their voices and cried: Message of Valiant Baal, word of Valiant Warrior: Greetings, O divine Mot, your servant am I, and forever so.

1350–1185 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in KTU

Psalm 73:9

Hebrew Bible

2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me. 3 For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they suffer no pain; their bodies are strong and well fed. 5 They are immune to the trouble common to men; they do not suffer as other men do. 6 Arrogance is their necklace, and violence covers them like clothing. 7 Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful. 8 They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence. 9 They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth. 10 Therefore they have more than enough food to eat and even suck up the water of the sea. 11 They say, “How does God know what we do? Is the Most High aware of what goes on?”

600–201 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Psalms

References

“... Th ere is some mythology of Death in the Psalms ( DDD 598–603), but unlike the Baal-Mot confl ict in the Baal Cycle, it is not represented as a matter of confl ict between Yahweh and Death personifi ed. Still some imagery for Death in the Psalms (141:7; cf. Isa. 5:14; Hab. 2:5; Prov. 1:12; 27:20; 30:15–16) echoes the traditional language found in the Baal Cycle: “One lip to the earth, one lip to the heavens; . . . his tongue to the stars. Baal must enter inside him; he must go down into his mouth” (KTU 1.5 II 2–5, SAC 141; cf. KTU 1.23.61–63, SAC 165). Th is mythic image of the cosmic enemy’s ravenous mouth is transferred to descriptions of human enemies (Ps. 73:9; cf. Isa 9:19). Another image of Death represents him as a shepherd leading people to the underworld (Ps. 49:15[14]); this metaphor has been read in light of the warning not to get too close to Death so that he not take “like a lamb in his mouth” (KTU 1.4 VIII 14–20, SAC 138). ...”

Mark S. Smith, “Canaanite Backgrounds to the Psalms,” in The Oxford Handbook of the Psalms, ed. William P. Brown (New York: Oxford University Press, 2014), 52.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Psalms150 psalms

Compare KTU 1.5 II:2 and Psalm 73:9

Summary

Passages

KTU 1.5 II:2

Psalm 73:9

References

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