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 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 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 off, 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 the righteous shall rejoice; they shall exult before God: yea, they shall be exceedingly joyful.
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 who rideth upon the heavens: the Everlasting is his name, and rejoice 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 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 You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland,
O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people, when thou didst tread along 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 quaked, also the heavens dropped at the presence of God, yea, this Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent abundant rain, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance.
Rain of beneficence didst thou pour down, O God, whereby thou didst truly strengthen thy heritage, when it was weary.
10 Your flock settled therein; O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor.
Thy assembly dwelt therein: thou didst prepare it with thy goodness for the afflicted [people]. O God,
11 The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:
The Lord gave [happy] tidings; they are published by the female messengers, a numerous host.
12 “Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.
The kings of the armies flee away—flee away: yet she that tarried 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 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 the kings in the land, it was like the snow falling on 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 Mount Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.
A mountain of God is the mount of Bashan; many peaks hath the mount 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 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 tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
The chariots of God are two myriads; thousands of angels [follow him]: the Lord is among them: so is Sinai holy [among mountains].
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 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 bears our burden, the God of our salvation.
Blessed be the Lord; day by day he loadeth us [with benefits]; our God is our salvation. (Selah)
20 Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.
Our God is to us the God of salvation: and by the Eternal the Lord are the escapes from death.
21 Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.
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 retrieve them from Bashan, I will bring them up 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 your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes— the tongues of your dogs in the same.”
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 Your procession, O God— the march of my God and 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 lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.
First come singers, then follow players on instruments, in the midst of maidens playing on timbrels.
26 Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.
In assemblies bless ye God, [praise] the Lord, ye sprung from Israel's fountain.
27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and 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 Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.
Thy God hath ordained the rule to thee: strengthen, O God, what thou hast wrought for us.
29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.
Because of thy temple over Jerusalem shall kings 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 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 Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.
Nobles will come out of Egypt: Ethiopia will stretch forth eagerly her hands unto God.
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord—
Kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; sing praises unto the Lord: (Selah)
33 to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.
To him who rideth over the highest heavens, of ancient days: hear! he sendeth forth his voice, the voice of might.
34 Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose 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, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to 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.
