Psalm 5 is the fifth psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Give ear to my words, O , consider my meditation". The Book of Psalms is part of the Ketuvim (Writings)âÂÂthe third section of the Hebrew BibleâÂÂand a book of the Christian Old Testament. In Latin, it is known as "". The psalm is traditionally attributed to David. It reflects how the righteous pray for deliverance not only from suffering, but also to allow themselves to serve God without distraction. The New King James Version entitles it "A Prayer for Guidance".
The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music by composers, such as Heinrich Schütz, Felix Mendelssohn, and Edward Elgar.
Psalm 5 falls within the genre of morning prayer because the morning was very important in the religions of the ancient Near East. Hence, verse 4:
The psalm opens as a lament, continues with praise, and requests that God punish evildoers. The psalmist describes the throat of the wicked as an open sepulcher. The psalmist ends (verse 12 or 13) with a blessing extended to all those who trust in God.
An accurate translation of the word Biblical Hebrew word (in the superscription or verse 1) is elusive; the Christian New Revised Standard Version and the Luther Bible give it as "for flute".
The Septuagint, Vulgate and some Arabic translations attribute from "inherit" meaning "" (Vulgate) and (Septuagint). Accordingly, it would be translated into English as "in favor of those who receive the inheritance". Therefore Augustine of Hippo, Cassiodorus and others interpreted it as "those heirs of God".
A thoroughly Christological interpretation can be found in Martin Luther's work, in which he finds the third verse revealing that the humanization of humankind occurs through the incarnation of Jesus.
Gerhard Ebeling sees in the psalm both as complaining (verse 10) and also at the same time as exultation and rejoicing (verse 12).
Psalm 5 uses musical instruments, flutes. Psalm 4 is the first psalm using a musical instrument, strings or "stringed instruments".
A new theme is introduced, the name of God, in verse 11:
This is the first of five psalms (Psalms 5âÂÂ9) all speaking of "the name of God", with nine verses speaking to various aspects, namely Psalm 5:11, Psalm 6:5, Psalm 7:17, Psalm 8:1, Psalm 8:9, Psalm 9:2, Psalm 9:5, and Psalm 9:10. Various types of flow in the Book of Psalms are explored by various authors such as O. Palmer Robertson.
An emphasis on a particular genre of psalm, the lament. In Psalm 5:1, God is called on to "listen to my lament." The most common genre of psalm in the book of Psalms will be the lament. Laments can be seen to occur more heavily in the first half of the book of Psalms.
The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.
In Judaism, verse 8 of Psalm 5 is the second verse of Ma Tovu.
Verse 9 is quoted in .
According to the Rule of St. Benedict, from 530, Psalm 1 to Psalm 20 were mainly reserved for office of Prime. Since the time of Saint Benedict, the Rule of Benedict has used this psalm for the office Lauds on Monday (Chapter XIII). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 5 is still recited or sung at Lauds on Monday of the first week.
In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Prime.
In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, Psalm 5 is appointed to be read on the morning of the first day of the month.
Caspar cross Hamer (1546) created in 1537 the chorale ' drawn heavily from the Psalms.
Heinrich Schütz composed a setting of a metred version in German, "", SWV 101, published in 1628 in the Becker Psalter. Felix Mendelssohn composed a setting of Psalm 5 in English, "Lord, hear the voice," for men's chorus in 1839. In 1911, Edward Elgar dedicated a setting for choir and orchestra, "", as an offertory for the coronation of King George V.