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.

For the Leader. A Psalm of David, a Song. Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Him flee 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.

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.

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

But let the righteous be glad, let them exult before God; yea, let them rejoice with gladness.

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.

Sing unto God, sing praises to His name; extol Him that rideth upon the skies, whose name is the LORD; and exult ye before Him.

5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender 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 settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

God maketh the solitary to dwell in a house; He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; the rebellious dwell but in a parched land.

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

O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness; (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 trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God; even yon Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

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

A bounteous rain didst Thou pour down, O God; when Thine inheritance was weary, Thou didst confirm it.

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

Thy flock settled therein; Thou didst prepare in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.

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

The Lord giveth the word; the women that proclaim the tidings are a great host.

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

Kings of armies flee, they flee; and she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.

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

When ye lie among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her pinions with the shimmer of gold.

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

When the Almighty scattereth kings therein, it snoweth in Zalmon.

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

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of peaks is the mountain 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 look ye askance, ye mountains of peaks, at the mountain which God hath desired for His abode? Yea, the LORD will dwell therein 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 chariots of God are myriads, even thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in holiness.

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.

Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive; Thou hast received gifts among men, yea, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.

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

Blessed be the Lord, day by day He beareth our burden, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

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

God is unto us a God of deliverances; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues of death.

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

Surely God will smite through the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of him that goeth about in his guiltiness.

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 bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;

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

That thy foot may wade through blood, that the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from thine enemies.'

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

They see Thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, in holiness.

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

The singers go before, the minstrels follow after, in the midst of damsels playing upon timbrels.

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

'Bless ye God in full assemblies, even the Lord, ye that are 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 Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah their council, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

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

Thy God hath commanded thy strength; be strong, O God, Thou that hast wrought for us

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

Out of Thy temple at Jerusalem, whither kings shall bring presents unto Thee.

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.

Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, every one submitting himself with pieces of silver; He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war!

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

Nobles shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands unto God.

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

Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; (Selah)

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

To Him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which are of old; lo, He uttereth His voice, a mighty voice.

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

Ascribe ye strength unto God; His majesty is over Israel, and His strength is in the skies.

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

Awful is God out of thy holy places; the God of Israel, He giveth strength and power unto the people; blessed be God.