Psalms in Clear English

By Ron Banuk

The Book of Proverbs has nine concomitants (related mysteries bundled together in a group).  The tenth is found in the Book of Psalms [77:19-22].  Below are the four verses proverbialized:There are three things the Lord has given us-no four-The Way hidden within the expanse of the sea,His Path made smooth through mighty waters,Footprints showing He always was and always will be there with us,and finally a Shepherd for His flock. It is the author's hope, that the increased understanding of the psalms imparted by this book will enhance your sanctification for "the tasks God has set before you" so you can preach the Kingdom of God and teach the glories of His Messiah. On the front cover, David is shown revering the "glorious things prophesied of the City of God" (Ps 87:3), which is the New Jerusalem as the heart of the Kingdom of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098034405

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Psalms in Clear English

Ron Banuk

Copyright © 2020 by Ron Banuk

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

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Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Groupings for the Psalms

Special Psalms

Book of Psalms

Numerology in Psalms

Theology

Introduction

Traditionally, the books of Psalms and Proverbs have always been a part of the New Testament (NT) Bible. Why? Why have these two wisdom books been more closely associated with NT doctrine than any other books?

Proverbs speaks of two paths: one that the righteous take to Heaven and the other that the wicked take to Hell. The rules for being on one path or the other have never changed. The seven steps to wisdom for the saved are contrasted to the self-destructive steps of the wicked.

Psalms, on the other hand, shows that the primary purpose of the person who is saved is to praise the Lord (Yahweh). His salvation comes from delightfully following every word the Lord has spoken, especially His commandments as illustrated in the greatest and longest psalm (119).

The author shows that the Jewish men who wrote these poetic psalms (Moses, David, Solomon, Korah, and Asaph) used their wisdom to throw light on a truly wide range of theological issues including salvation (Gentile and Jewish), reward and punishment, self-destruction, wisdom, rules for the righteous man, the law of love, the universality of sin, capital punishment, the deep-state united against God and His followers, the eternal throne of David, prayer, battle readiness, creation, evangelism, God being distant and near, a reverential awe of God, Messiah on the cross, faith-hope-love as a unity, fearing no man, God is truth, imputation, God’s continual presence with the believer, Messiah is King, Jerusalem is the City of God, the snatching up, the beginning of human life, abortion, sin begets sin, an understanding of why the wicked seem to succeed, salvation history pictured in the stars, and the Shekinah Glory.

For the first time, the reader will have in his hands a theological summary of the Book of Psalms, a complete list of the historiographical and battle psalms; and acknowledgements of the tenth Messianic psalm, the tenth concomitant, the ten I-wills and twelve characteristics of the righteous man, and God’s omniscience in the seven confines of the Earth.

Foreword

In  Psalms in Clear English , Ron Banuk once again does an outstanding job of explaining the psalms in an understandable and culturally relevant way. Unique to this amplified translation of the psalms is a theological index that allows the student to quickly identify particular psalms with theological categories. Ron’s delight in the Law of the LORD is evident from his careful analysis and practical insights included throughout the book. Psalms in Clear English is a ready resource for both the casual reader and the careful student.

Matt Dumas, Senior Pastor, Central Christian Church

Groupings for the Psalms

Titled Groupings

Commandments: 19:7–14, 119

Wisdom: 1, 37, 49, 119

Didactic: 1, 34, 37, 73, 112, 119, 128, 133

Solomonic: 72, 127

Messianic: 2, 8, 16, 22, 40, 45, 72, 110, 118, 149

Royal: 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, 144

Royal Catholic: 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 61, 72, 110, 132

Enthronement: 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100

Imprecatory Prayer: 7, 35, 55, 58, 59, 69, 79, 109, 129:5–7, 137, 139

Lamentation Prayer: 3, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 17, 28, 31, 32, 38, 51, 53, 56, 102, 120, 130, 143 (Penitential Prayer)

Historiography: 44:9–19, 60:6–8, 74:12–17, 78, 81:4–16, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108:7–9, 114, 135:8–14, 136:10–24

Battle: 18, 27:1–3, 30:8–10, 33:16–22, 35:1–10, 41:1–3, 63, 60:9–12, 76:3–12, 91:3–16, 108:10–13, 144

Prayer (General): 4, 18:1–3, 25, 26, 27:4–15, 35:17–28, 41:4–12, 44, 54, 57, 71, 82:8, 83, 84:8–12, 85, 86, 88, 90, 118:25–29, 122:6–7

Flight: 34, 52, 54, 56, 57, 59, 63, 142 (David fleeing Saul)

Idols: 115:4–8, 135:15–18

Alleluia: 104, 105, 106, 111–118, 135, 146–150

Antiphonal: 111, 112, 123, 133, 136

Ascent (Pilgrimage): 120–134 (Hallel, Song Sung on Way to Jerusalem)

Doxology: 41:13, 72:18–19, 89:52, 106:48, 150

Acrostic: 9/10 (2), 17, 25 (1), 34 (1), 37 (2), 111 (1/2), 112 (1/2), 119 (8), 145 (1) [Parenthesis indicate number of verses per letter.]

Song of Zion: 46, 47, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122, 125, 126, 128, 129, 137

Untitled Groupings

God Speaks: 2:7–9, 12:5, 32:8–11, 40:7–8, 50:7–23, 60:6–8, 75:2–7, 81:6–16, 89:3–4, 19–37; 91:14–16, 94:8–11, 95:8–13, 105:15, 110:1–4, 132:14–18, 137:5

Mikhtam: 16, 56–60 (vade mecum for personal use)

Maskil (wise): 32, 43, 44, 45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88, 89, 142

Egyptian Hallel: 113–118

Sons of Korah: 42–49, 84–85, 87, 88

Songs of Asaph: 50, 73–83

Davidic: 1–41, 51–65, 68–70, 86, 101, 103, 108–110, 133, 138–145

Orphan Psalms: 1, 2, 10, 33, 43, 71, 91, 93–97, 99, 104–107, 111–119, 135–137, 146–150 (no Hebrew superscriptions)

Special Psalms

1 The first psalm sets the tone for the entire book

12 The Wicked Society (Applicable Today)

15 The Righteous Man—Twelve Rules

19 Verses 1–6 speak to oral history in the Mazzaroth (Zodiac), while verses 7–14 speak to written history in the Bible (Tenach).

21 David writes in the third person.

23 The Lord is my shepherd (This is perhaps the most famous psalm.)

24 Who Can Enter into Heaven?

29 The Lord’s Voice and the Lord’s Presence over the Earth

45 Catholic: Royal and Mary as Queen. Protestant: Royal and Messianic Wedding Psalm

47 Jewish Hegemony

50 Judgment Guidelines from God Himself

51 Law of Moses internalized as the Law of Love

53 All sin. No one is good.

56 US Coin: In God We Trust

62 Law and Grace. My Rock and my Salvation.

63 Verses 1 and 2 and 8–10: General George Patton’s favorite verses.

67 Gentile Salvation through the Jews

71 Old Age

77 Tenth Concomitant (Nine Are in the Book of Proverbs)

80 Allegory of the Vine of Salvation

85 Poetic Verses: 9–13

89 Davidic Covenant

90 Oldest psalm and only psalm by Moses

101 The Ten I Wills of the Righteous Man

110 Most Important Psalm from a Messianic Perspective

Most difficult to put in clear English.

113 The Lesser Hallel (Song of Praise)

119 The Greatest Psalm (God’s Word Saves)

136 The Great Hallel (Song of Praise Recited at Passover after the Lesser Hallel)

139 Life Begins in the Womb

145 Only Davidic Psalm with the Superscription of a Psalm of Praise

149 The Tenth and Final Messianic Psalm

Book of Psalms

Amplified

Book I

Psalm 1

Wisdom and Didactic

The man who does the following is blest:

He does not seek advice from those who break the law.

He has no business with sinners.

He does not associate with those who laugh at the righteous.

Righteous: The word righteous is used extensively in the Wisdom books. From the 1828 Webster Dictionary, we learn that it means right wise but not in the sense of being wise, but meaning ways as in lengthwise and otherwise. So the practitioner does what is right in the Way of the Lord.

But he delights in keeping God’s commandments, and he thinks about God’s commandments day and night.

This man will be strong like an old fruit tree:

Rooted by streams of running water,

Yielding fruit every season,

Having leaves that thrive till autumn.

Whatever this man does, he will prosper.

The wicked are not like this. They are like the dust blown away by the wind.

The wicked will not be judged for their righteous deeds. These sinners will not share the glory of the righteous.

For the Lord knows every man:

The righteous will be rewarded (for their good deeds);

The wicked will perish (for their sins).

First Psalm: The first Psalm sets the tone for the entire book. Of particular importance is the definition of the man who is saved. This man does not just keep God’s commandments, but delights in keeping the Law. If a man kept the entire OT Law of 613 commandments, but did not do it with a good conscience (suneidesis), as Paul would say, meaning not out of duress or hypocrisy, then he had sinned. In Hebrew one could say that the Law should be kept in truth and uprightness (yashar) meaning as in Psalm 111:8. John quotes Jesus saying: If you love Me, you will keep my commandments [Jn 14:15]. And if you love Him, you will delight in keeping His commandments.

Psalm 2

Messianic and Royal Psalm

(The End Time Prior to Armageddon)

Why are the nations of the world in freefall? Why are their citizens chasing after vanities?

The rulers of the world form leagues of nations. They conspire together. They form pacts against God the Father and His anointed Messiah (Jesus Christ).

Let us break their chains of bondage and their airs of political correctness!

God (Adonai) sitting in Heaven laughs and derides these rulers [Pr 1:26].

He will speak to them in anger and terrorize them in wrath.

Millennial Rule of Messiah

But my Ruler is on Mount Zion, the holy mountain where Messiah will reign.

Mount Zion: See 48:1n, 48:2n, and 125:2n.

God, the Father decreed the following to His Son (eons in the past): "You are My Son. Today, I have begotten You.

You are My Son: This verse obtains fulfillment in the Millennium when Christ is king. A more complete description of vv. 7–8 is given in Isaiah 9:6–7: For unto us a child is born, a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom…

Ask Me (the Father) and I will give You (My Son and Messiah) all nations of the world as Your inheritance. Your possessions will extend to the ends of the Earth.

You will break all resistance with a rod of iron and shatter their forces like pottery."

Warning to End-Time Rulers

Rulers of the Earth be discerning here. Judges of the Earth take warning here.

Worship the Lord with reverence and tremble at His feet.

Pay homage to the Son of God, lest He become angry and you perish, for His wrath will be quickly kindled. Those who take refuge in Him will be blest.

Psalm 3

Lamentation Prayer

O, Lord (Yahweh), my enemies are increasing and they are rising up against me.

They are even saying that I am damned to Hell.

But You, O, Lord, are my shield, my glory, and the One who comforts me.

I prayed out loud to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mountain (in Jerusalem).

Then I collapsed into a deep sleep. But I awoke (safely), because the Lord was watching over me.

Ten thousand enemies surrounding me on all sides will not cause me to fear.

Come to my defense, O, Lord. Save me again! Formerly You have crushed my enemies. You have broken the backs of the wicked.

Salvation comes from the Lord (Yahweh)! May You bless Your people.

Lamentation Psalms: There are many lamentation or penitential psalms. These are prayers. See the listing of all Lamentation Prayers under Groupings. The periods in which David’s soul was troubled were probably due to his not being allowed to build the Temple [2 Sam 7], the three years of famine, David’s adultery with Bathsheba, Absalom’s rebellion to usurp the throne, the three-days pestilence, and Adonijah’s (David’s older brother) conspiracy. David had many occasions to grieve.

Psalm 4

Prayer

Please answer my prayer, O, God, of the righteous. Previously, you have comforted me in distress. Now be gracious, and hear my prayer.

Men created by the Almighty, how long will you continue to rob me of my crown? How long will you hope for the impossible and lie to pursue your goals?

But know that the Lord is close to the godly man and hears him when he calls.

Tremble in awe of the Lord.

Meditate and be still.

Do what the Lord has commanded.

Trust in the Lord.

Many are now saying: Who will give us happiness? May the light of Your Shekinah Glory shine upon us.

You have made our hearts happier than a bountiful harvest.

Now I can lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O, Lord, are my security.

Psalm 5

Lamentation Prayer

Hear me, O, Lord (Yahweh), and consider the trials I am going through.

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God. Only to You do I pray.

Every morning I pray to you, and throughout the day I eagerly wait for an answer.

You are a God (El) who takes no pleasure in sin. There is no evil within You.

Those full of pride cannot stand before You. You hate those who practice sin!

Practice Sin: Here the KJV says workers of iniquity. This has the same meaning as practice lawlessness [Mt 7:23] or practice sin [1 John 3:4] or workers of iniquity [Ps 5:6 and 6:8]. These people are going to Hell. God hates their sin and He hates them.

You destroy liars. You abhor murders and the deceitful.

But as for me, I can enter Your House because of Your lovingkindness (hesed); and I will bow in reverence before You in Your holy Temple.

The Universal Depravity of Man [Rom 3:9–18]

O, Lord, lead me in the Path of righteousness, because my enemies are watching my every move. Prepare my Way so that I do not falter.

Their word is never reliable and they are rotten to their very core. Their speech flatters and beckons the listener to Hell.

Judge them guilty, O, God. Let them fall by their own hand [Pr 1:17–19]. For their many sins, cast them away, because they are rebellious.

Refuge for the Righteous

But let all who seek refuge in You be glad and sing for joy as You shelter them so that they can continue exalting Your name.

It is You, O, Lord (Yahweh), who blesses the righteous and keeps them safe.

Psalm 6

Lamentation Prayer

O, Lord (Yahweh), do not continue to chastise me in your anger, or sanction me in Your wrath.

Be merciful to me, O, Lord, for I am wasting away and even my bones are decaying.

I am losing my mind. How long, O, Lord, will you let this continue?

Come to me, O, Lord, and save my soul because of Your lovingkindness.

If I die, then I cannot praise you from Sheol.

Sheol: David did not know that those who had died in a state of righteousness would go to Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise, which was a section of Hell separated from the fires by a chasm. The Old Testament (OT) saints in Paradise were waiting for Messiah to atone for their sins by imputation. David is simply saying that he would no longer be able to praise God as a live person on Earth. See 119:77n.

I am at the point of exhaustion. Every night I cry myself to sleep.

My eyes are bloodshot and as good as an old man’s. All this because of my enemies.

Leave me alone, you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my plaintive cries.

The Lord has heard my prayer and received my requests.

Therefore, my enemies shall be ashamed of their actions and withdraw from me.

Psalm 7

Imprecatory Prayer

O, Lord (Yahweh), My God (Elohim), I take refuge in You. Save me from those pursuing me.

Otherwise they will tear out my heart and drag me away.

O, Lord, My God, if I have done any wrong, if I have done any injustice,

if I have done evil to my friend, or done evil to my adversary,

then let the enemy be successful in their attacks and trample the life out of me, as my glory fades away.

Take action, O, Lord, and pit Your anger against the rage of my enemy. Execute your ordered judgment on my behalf.

For this the people will praise You when You sit high on the judgment seat,

and judge the people. Vindicate me, O, Lord, by my righteousness and integrity.

Bring the wicked to an end and establish the righteous, for my righteous God understands the thoughts and feelings of the people.

God (Elohim) is my shield. He saves those with an upright heart.

God (Elohim) is a righteous judge, and He is a God (El) (slow to anger, but [Greek]) who threatens the wicked daily.

He will sharpen His sword against the unrepentant man and He is ready to use His weapons,

which find their mark with a trail of fire,

on the man consumed with malice, who devises and disguises his mischief.

This man has dug his own trap [Pr 1:17–19], and (by self-destruction) fallen into it.

His crime will return to him, and he will suffer by his own hand.

I will give thanks to the Lord (for the righteousness He has shown me in the past and will in the future), and will sing the praises of the Lord Most High (YahwehElyon).

Psalm 8

Messianic

O, Lord (Yahweh), our Lord (Adonai), Your name is the most majestic on the Earth and in the heavens above the Earth.

You use the weak to confound the mighty.

As I look at the cosmos—the stars and the Moon that You created,

I ask: What then is Your creation called man (ben adam)? And why is he, or even his descendants, given a thought?

But You created man a little lower than the angels [elohim and Heb 2:7], and You crowned him with glory and majesty.

You made him to rule over your creation. Everything is