< Psalms 68 >
1 For the Chief Musician; A Psalm of David, a Song. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; Let them also that hate him flee before him.
“To the chief musician, by David, a Psalm or song.” Oh that God would arise, that his enemies might be scattered, and those that hate him might flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: As wax melteth before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
As smoke is driven off, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God: Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.
But the righteous shall rejoice; they shall exult before God: yea, they shall be exceedingly joyful.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: Cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; His name is Jehovah; and exult ye before him.
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name; extol him who rideth upon the heavens: the Everlasting is his name, and rejoice before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation.
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
God places those who are solitary in the midst of their families: he bringeth out those who are bound unto happiness; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness; (Selah)
O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people, when thou didst tread along through the wilderness—Selah—
8 The earth trembled, The heavens also dropped [rain] at the presence of God: Yon Sinai [trembled] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
The earth quaked, also the heavens dropped at the presence of God, yea, this Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
Rain of beneficence didst thou pour down, O God, whereby thou didst truly strengthen thy heritage, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation dwelt therein: Thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor.
Thy assembly dwelt therein: thou didst prepare it with thy goodness for the afflicted [people]. O God,
11 The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.
The Lord gave [happy] tidings; they are published by the female messengers, a numerous host.
12 Kings of armies flee, they flee; And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.
The kings of the armies flee away—flee away: yet she that tarried at home divideth the spoil.
13 When ye lie among the sheepfolds, [It is as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.
When ye lie still between the folds [of your cattle], [ye will be like] the wings of the dove covered with sliver, and her pinions shining with flaming gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings therein, [It was as when] it snoweth in Zalmon.
When the Almighty scattered kings in the midst of her, then even in darkness shone light [as pure] as snow.
15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.
A mountain of God is the mount of Bashan; many peaks hath the mount of Bashan.
16 Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, At the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell [in it] for ever.
Why watch ye enviously, ye many-peaked mountains, yonder mountain which God hath chosen for his residence? yea, the Lord will also dwell [there] for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands: The Lord is among them, [as in] Sinai, in the sanctuary.
The chariots of God are two myriads; thousands of angels [follow him]: the Lord is among them: so is Sinai holy [among mountains].
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, [among] the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell [with them].
Thou didst ascend on high, lead away captives, receive gifts among men, yea, even the rebellious, to dwell among them. O Lord God.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, Even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)
Blessed be the Lord; day by day he loadeth us [with benefits]; our God is our salvation. (Selah)
20 God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death.
Our God is to us the God of salvation: and by the Eternal the Lord are the escapes from death.
21 But God will smite through the head of his enemies, The hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his guiltiness.
But God will crush the head of his enemies, the hairy skull of him who walketh in his guiltiness.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring [them] again from the depths of the sea;
The Lord hath said, From Bashan will I bring back, I will bring back from the depths of the sea:
23 That thou mayest crush [them], [dipping] thy foot in blood, That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from [thine] enemies.
In order that thou mayest wade with thy feet in blood, feeding the tongue of thy dogs from the enemies' blood.
24 They have seen thy goings, O God, Even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
Men see thy goings forth, O God! the goings forth of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, In the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.
First come singers, then follow players on instruments, in the midst of maidens playing on timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, Even the Lord, [ye that are] of the fountain of Israel.
In assemblies bless ye God, [praise] the Lord, ye sprung from Israel's fountain.
27 There is little Benjamin their ruler, The princes of Judah [and] their council, The princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
There Benjamin the youngest leadeth them on, the princes of Judah in purple robes, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
Thy God hath ordained the rule to thee: strengthen, O God, what thou hast wrought for us.
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem Kings shall bring presents unto thee.
Because of thy temple over Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, Trampling under foot the pieces of silver: He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war.
Rebuke the wild beasts hiding among the reeds, the troops of steers among the calves of nations, that hasten along with presents of silver. He scattereth nations that are eager for the fight.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.
Nobles will come out of Egypt: Ethiopia will stretch forth eagerly her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; Oh sing praises unto the Lord; (Selah)
Kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; sing praises unto the Lord: (Selah)
33 To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old; Lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.
To him who rideth over the highest heavens, of ancient days: hear! he sendeth forth his voice, the voice of might.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, And his strength is in the skies.
Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the skies.
35 O God, [thou art] terrible out of thy holy places: The God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto [his] people. Blessed be God.
Thou art tremendous, O God, from thy holy residences: O God of Israel, [thou art] he that givest strength and power unto [thy] people. Blessed be God.