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 those also 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 is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish in 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; may they rejoice and be happy.

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! Sing praises to his name! Praise the one who rides through the plains of the Jordan River valley! Yahweh is his name! 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, a judge of the widows, is God in the holy place where he lives.

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

God puts the lonely into families; he brings out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a parched land.

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

God, when you went out before your people, when you marched 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 rain in God's presence, in the presence of God when he came to Sinai, in the presence of God, the God of Israel.

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

You, God, sent a plentiful rain; you strengthened your inheritance when it was weary.

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

Your people lived in it; You, God, gave from your goodness to the poor.

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

The Lord gave the orders, and those who announced them were a great army.

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

Kings of armies flee, they flee, and the women waiting at home divide the plunder:

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

doves covered with silver with wings of yellow gold. When some of you people stayed among the sheepfolds, why did you do this?

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

The Almighty scattered kings there, it was as when it snowed on Mount Zalmon.

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

A mighty mountain is the hill country of Bashan; a high mountain is the hill country 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 do you look in envy, you high hill country, at the mountain which God desires for the place he will live? Indeed, Yahweh will live in it 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 twenty thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them in the holy place, as at Sinai.

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 ascended on high; you have led away captives; you have received gifts from among men, even from those who fought against you, so that you, Yahweh God, might live there.

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

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

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

Our God is a God who saves; Yahweh the Lord is the one who is able to rescue us 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 strike through the heads of his enemies, through the hairy scalps of those who walk in offenses against him.

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 my enemies 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.”

so that you may crush your enemies, dipping your foot in blood, and so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from your enemies.”

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

They have seen your processions, God, the processions 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 singers went first, the minstrels followed after, and in the middle were the unmarried girls playing tambourines.

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

Bless God in the assemblies; praise Yahweh, you who 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 first Benjamin, the smallest tribe, then the leaders of Judah and their multitudes, the leaders of Zebulun and the leaders of Naphtali.

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

Your God, Israel, has decreed your strength; reveal to us your power, God, as you have revealed it in times past.

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

Reveal your power to us from your temple at Jerusalem, where kings bring gifts 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.

Shout in battle against the wild beasts in the reeds, against the peoples, that multitude of bulls and calves. Humiliate them and make them bring you gifts; scatter the peoples who love to wage war.

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

Princes will come out of Egypt; Cush will hurry to reach out with her hands to God.

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

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; (Selah) Sing praises to Yahweh.

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

To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which exist from ancient times; see, he lifts up his voice with power.

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

Ascribe strength to 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!

God, you are fearsome in your holy place; the God of Israel—he gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.