Psalms 48

1 A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.

For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. The Lord is supreme! He deserves praise in the city of our God on his holy mountain.

2 Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.

Mount Zion is high and beautiful, bringing happiness to all the earth; on the northern side is the city of the great King.

3 God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be a fortress.

God himself is in the city's fortresses; he is recognized as its defender.

4 For behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together.

Look at what happened when foreign kings joined forces and came to attack the city.

5 They saw and were astounded; they fled in terror.

As soon as they saw it they were astonished and ran away terrified.

6 Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.

They shook all over, and were in agonizing pain like a woman giving birth,

7 With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.

just as the strong east wind wrecks the ships from Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of Hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish her forever.

Just as we had heard, but now we have seen the city of the Lord Almighty. This is the city of our God; he makes it secure forever. (Selah)

9 Within Your temple, O God, we contemplate Your loving devotion.

God, we recall your trustworthy love as we worship in the Temple.

10 Your name, O God, like Your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.

As is fitting for your reputation, God, praises to you stretch all around the world. What you do is always right!

11 Mount Zion is glad, the daughters of Judah rejoice, on account of Your judgments.

Let the people of Mount Zion be glad; let the people of Judah celebrate because your judgments are always fair!

12 March around Zion, encircle her, count her towers,

Go and take a look at Zion. Count the towers as you walk around.

13 consider her ramparts, tour her citadels, that you may tell the next generation.

Inspect the fortifications. Examine the citadels, so you can describe everything to the next generation, telling them:

14 For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even till death.

“This is who our God is. He is our God forever and ever. He himself will lead us until the very end.”