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 Chief Musician. A Psalm of David, a Song. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let them also 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: cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; his name is JAH; 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 setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity: but the rebellious dwell 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.

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

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

Thy congregation dwelt therein: thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor.

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

The Lord giveth the word: the women that publish 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.”

Will ye lie among the sheepfolds, [as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her pinions with yellow gold?

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

When the Almighty scattered kings therein, [it was as when] 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; an high mountain 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 high mountains, at the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? yea, the LORD will dwell [in it] 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 twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands: the Lord is among them, [as in] Sinai, in the sanctuary.

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 [thy] captivity captive; thou hast received gifts among men, yea, [among] the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell [with them].

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

Blessed be the Lord, who daily 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 JEHOVAH the Lord belong the issues from death.

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

But God shall smite through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still 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 again from Bashan, I will bring [them] again 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 thou mayest dip thy foot in 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 have seen thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

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

The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.

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

Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, [ye that are] of 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 their ruler, the princes of Judah [and] 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: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

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

Because of thy temple at Jerusalem 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, trampling under foot the 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.

Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste 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, [and that] 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 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!

O God, [thou art] terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto [his] people. Blessed be God.