Psalms, Books 2–3

Denise Dombkowski Hopkins is Woodrow and Mildred Miller Professor of Biblical Theology and Hebrew Bible at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. She has authored Journey through the Psalms (Chalice Press, 2002) and (with Michael Koppel) Grounded in the Living Word: The Old Testament and Pastoral Care Practices (Eerdmans, 2010). She and Michael Koppel have co-chaired the Bible and Practical Theology section in the Society of Biblical Literature for six years. The mother of two, she holds PhD and MA degrees from Vanderbilt University and a BA from Syracuse University.Barbara E. Reid, general editor of the Wisdom Commentary series, is a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies, and president emerita of Catholic Theological Union (the first woman who held the position). She has been a member of the CTU faculty since 1988 and also served as vice president and academic dean from 2009 to 2018. She holds a PhD in biblical studies from The Catholic University of America and was president of the Catholic Biblical Association in 2014–2015. Her most recent publications are Luke 1–9 and Luke 10–24, co-authored with Shelly Matthews (WCS 43A, 43B; Liturgical Press, 2021); and At the Table of Holy Wisdom: Global Hungers and Feminist Biblical Interpretation (Paulist, 2023).

"In Psalms, Books 2–3, Denise Dombkowski Hopkins employs dissonant listening to the individual psalms, ever looking for intertexts that illuminate the powerful emotions and logic of the original authors. The intertexts involve women whose experiences resemble those voiced by the psalmists. Other female voices—African American, Latin American, and Asian—join Denise in a plea to implement social justice, combat racism and sexual trafficking, adopt sustainable agricultural practices, and bring healing to a broken world."James L. Crenshaw, Robert L. Flowers Emeritus, Professor of Old Testament, Duke University

• ContentsList of Abbreviations xiAcknowledgments xiiiList of Contributors xvForeword: “Tell It on the Mountain”—or, “And You Shall Tell Your Daughter [as Well]” xviiAthalya Brenner-IdanEditor’s Introduction to Wisdom Commentary: “She Is a Breath of the Power of God” (Wis 7:25) xxiBarbara E. Reid, OPAuthor’s Introduction: Reading Books 2 and 3 of the Psalms (Pss 42–89) xliBook 2 of the Psalter (Pss 42–72) 1Psalm(s) 42–43 Tears of Connection 3Psalm 44 Is Israel’s Suffering Redemptive? 17Psalm 45 When Being Lusted After Is Not Enough 27Psalm 46 Imagining a World without War 35Psalm 47 Willing Worship? 41 Psalm 48 Inverting the Birth Metaphor 49Psalm 49 You Can’t Take It with You 55Psalm 50 Protecting the Family 63Psalm 51 Collateral Damage 71Psalm 52 Tree of Life 81Psalm 53 The Fool and Sexual Violence 87Psalm 54 Dual Obligation 93Psalm 55 Prisoner of Disgrace 97Psalm 56 A Voice for Muted Women 107Psalm 57 God as Mother Bird 113Psalm 58 Broken Women’s Bodies and the Health of Community 121Psalm 59 Protestation of Innocence 127Psalm 60 Co-opting the “Other” Woman 133Psalm 61 God’s Nurturing Protection 141Psalm 62 The Positive Value of Silence 147Psalm 63 Body-Based Prayer 155Psalm 64 Sharp Tongues 163Psalm 65 The Earth’s Praise 171Psalm 66 Women’s Daily Victories of Survival 179Psalm 67 Universal Gratitude for God’s Bounty 185Psalm 68 Conflicting Images of Women 189Psalm 69 Women’s Tears 199Psalm 70 Shame and Retribution 209Psalm 71 Persistence in the Midst of Doubt 215Psalm 72 Irony as Criticism 221Book 3 of the Psalter (Pss 73–89) 227Psalm 73 Letting God Off the Hook? 229 Psalm 74 Jerusalem as Woman 239Psalm 75 The Earth Totters 247Psalm 76 Peace through Violence? 253Psalm 77 Refusing to Be Comforted 261Psalm 78 God’s “Womb-love” and Memory 269Psalm 79 Redirected Anger 281Psalm 80 Covenant Expectations Met and Unmet 289Psalm 81 Time for Decision—Whose Voice Is Heard? 299Psalm 82 God’s Hiddenness 307Psalm 83 Corrupting Retributive Violence 315Psalm 84 Unrequited Love 323Psalm 85 Promises to Keep 331Psalm 86 Need and Devotion 339Psalm 87 Mother Zion 347Psalm 88 Meaningless Suffering? 355Psalm 89 We Told You So 365Works Cited 375Index of Scripture References 391Index of Subjects 405