Botha, Philippus Jacobus2019-01-302019-01-302018-09-06Botha, P.J., 2018, ‘Psalm 5 and the polarity between those who may stand before Yahweh and those who may not’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 74(1), a5087. https://DOI.org/10.4102/hts.v74i1.5087.0259-9422 (print)2072-8050 (online)10.4102/hts.v74i1.5087http://hdl.handle.net/2263/68297To name a few exegetes: Kraus (1978:175), Seybold (1996:40) and Weber (2001:63). Weiser (1962:123) simply classifies it as an ‘individual lament’ according to its ‘form and subject-matter’. Anderson (1972:81) also says it is an individual lament or else a prayer of a falsely accused man. Mowinckel (2014:808) considers Psalm 5 to be a ‘sin-offering psalm’, which served as a prayer for one who needed cleansing from the effects of sorcerers and demons. There are also those who express doubt that the psalm was intended for such a purpose, for example, Terrien (2003:105). Goldingay (2006:127) asserts that there are no pointers to a specific speaker or context for which it was designed. Prinsloo (1998:629, n. 9) lists the authors who describe the psalm as an individual lament (with some variation, such as that it approaches the quality of a psalm of confidence or of innocence; cf. also Prinsloo 1998:629, n. 10).The author would like to acknowledge the input of his retired colleague and friend, J. Henk Potgieter, with whom the topic was discussed on numerous occasions during the research and composition of the article.Psalm 5 is often described as an example of a prayer of someone who has been falsely accused of wrongdoing. Based on the contents of the middle part of the psalm, its wisdom features and especially the parallels it forms with Psalm 1, it is argued in this article that the editors of the Psalter attempted to present the psalm as a prayer of David at the time of his flight from Absalom. In this prayer of the endangered king, he (prophetically) pronounced judgement on the actions and attitudes of his opponents and respectfully entrusted himself to the care of Yahweh. In its literary context, the psalm was therefore probably meant to censure arrogant and irreligious compatriots of the editors, because they exploited fellow Jews, and also to provide hope and encouragement to those exploited members of the in-group.en© 2018. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Psalm 5PrayerWrongdoingYahwehHumanities articles SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationArticle