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. Of David. A psalm. A song. God arises, his enemies scatter: they who 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 before wind is driven, as wax melts before fire, so before God vanish the wicked.

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

But the righteous rejoice in God’s presence, they exult with exceeding 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.

Sing to God, make music to his name, his name is the Lord, praise him who rides on the clouds, and exult in his presence.

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

Father of orphans, defender of widows, is God in his holy abode.

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

God brings home the lonely, he leads forth the prisoner to comfort, so that none but the rebel lives cheerless.

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

God, when you went in front of your people in your march through the desert, (Selah)

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

earth shook, the heavens poured rain at the presence of God, Sinai’s God at the presence of God, Israel’s God.

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

Rain in abundance, God, you did sprinkle, restoring the languishing land of your heritage.

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

A dwelling therein your people found: in your goodness, O God, you did care for the poor.

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

The Lord spoke the glad tidings of victory, a great army of women proclaim it:

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

“Kings of armies they flee, they flee, and the housewife divides 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.”

dove’s wings covered with silver and pinions with shimmer of gold,

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

set with stones, like snow upon 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.

You high-peaked mountains, why look you askance at the mountain which God has desired for his home whereon the Lord will live forever?

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 twice ten thousand: the Lord came from Sinai, his 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 did mount the height with trains of your captives, and gifts that you had received from the people. The rebels shall live with the Lord God.

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

Blest be the Lord who sustains us daily, the God who is also our savior. (Selah)

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

Our God is a God who is savior. The ways of escape from death are known to the Lord God.

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

Yes, God will shatter the head of his foes the rough scalp of those who strut on in their sins.

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 you home from Bashan, home 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 your feet you may bathe in blood, and your dogs lick their share of the foe.”

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

In the temple appear God’s triumphal processions, processions in praise of my king and my God,

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

with singers in front, and minstrels behind, and maidens with timbrels between them, singing,

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

“You of the well-spring of Israel, bless the Lord God in the dance.”

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

There, in front, is Benjamin the little, the princes of Judah beside them, the princes of Zebulon, princes of Naphtali.

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

God, show your strength, your godlike might, as you did in the past,

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

from your temple that crowns Jerusalem. Kings shall bring tribute to you.

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 beast of the reed, the herd of bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Trample down the lovers of lies. Scatter the nations whose joy is in war.

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

May they come from Egypt with gifts of oil, Ethiopia haste with full hands to God.

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

Sing to God, O you kingdoms of earth, make melody to the Lord. (Selah)

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

Praise him who rides on the ancient heavens. See! He utters his voice, his mighty voice.

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

Ascribe strength to the God over Israel, whose strength and majesty live 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!

Awe-inspiring is God in his holy place, it is Israel’s God who gives strength and might to his people. Blessed be God.