Psalms 68

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence.

To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. A Song. Let God be seen, and let his haters be put to flight; let those who are against him be turned back before him.

2 As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.

Let them be like smoke before the driving wind; as wax turning soft before the fire, so let them come to an end before the power of God.

3 But the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy.

But let the upright be glad; let them have delight before God; let them be full of joy.

4 Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds — His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him.

Make songs to God, make songs of praise to his name; make a way for him who comes through the waste lands; his name is Jah; be glad before him.

5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.

A father to those who have no father, a judge of the widows, is God in his holy place.

6 God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

Those who are without friends, God puts in families; he makes free those who are in chains; but those who are turned away from him are given a dry land.

7 O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland,

O God, when you went out before your people, wandering through the waste land; (Selah)

8 the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

The earth was shaking and the heavens were streaming, because God was present; even Sinai itself was moved before God, the God of Israel.

9 You sent abundant rain, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance.

You, O God, did freely send the rain, giving strength to the weariness of your heritage.

10 Your flock settled therein; O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor.

Those whose resting-place was there, even the poor, were comforted by your good things, O God.

11 The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:

The Lord gives the word; great is the number of the women who make it public.

12 “Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.

Kings of armies quickly go in flight: and the women in the houses make a division of their goods.

13 Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.”

Will you take your rest among the flocks? like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and its feathers with yellow gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like the snow falling on Zalmon.

When the Most High put the kings to flight, it was as white as snow in Salmon.

15 A mountain of God is Mount Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.

A hill of God is the hill of Bashan; a hill with high tops is the hill of Bashan.

16 Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling, where the LORD will surely dwell forever.

Why are you looking with envy, you high hills, on the hill desired by God as his resting-place? truly, God will make it his house for ever.

17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.

The war-carriage of God is among Israel's thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai to the holy place.

18 You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.

You have gone up on high, taking your prisoners with you; you have taken offerings from men; the Lord God has taken his place on the seat of his power.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation.

Praise be to the Lord, who is our support day by day, even the God of our salvation. (Selah)

20 Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.

Our God is for us a God of salvation; his are the ways out of death.

21 Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.

The heads of the haters of God will be crushed; even the head of him who still goes on in his evil ways.

22 The Lord said, “I will retrieve them from Bashan, I will bring them up from the depths of the sea,

The Lord said, I will make them come back from Bashan, and from the deep parts of the sea;

23 that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes— the tongues of your dogs in the same.”

So that your foot may be red with blood, and the tongues of your dogs with the same.

24 They have seen Your procession, O God— the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.

We see your going, O God: even the going of my God, my King, into the holy place.

25 The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.

The makers of songs go before, the players of music come after, among the young girls playing on brass instruments.

26 Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.

Give praise to God in the great meeting; even the Lord, you who come from the fountain of Israel.

27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

There is little Benjamin ruling them, the chiefs of Judah and their army, the rulers of Zebulun and the rulers of Naphtali.

28 Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.

O God, send out your strength; the strength, O God, with which you have done great things for us,

29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.

Out of your Temple in Jerusalem.

30 Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, until it submits, bringing bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.

Say sharp words to the beast among the water-plants, the band of strong ones, with the lords of the peoples, put an end to the people whose delight is in war.

31 Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.

Kings will give you offerings, they will come out of Egypt; from Pathros will come offerings of silver; Ethiopia will be stretching out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord—

Make songs to God, you kingdoms of the earth; O make songs of praise to the Lord; (Selah)

33 to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.

To him who goes or the clouds of heaven, the heaven which was from earliest times; he sends out his voice of power.

34 Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.

Make clear that strength is God's: he is lifted up over Israel, and his power is in the clouds.

35 O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!

O God, you are to be feared in your holy place: the God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God.