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 by David. A song. Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also 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 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 rejoice before God. Yes, 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 to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, 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, and a defender 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 sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched 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 sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at 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 confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.

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

Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.

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

The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.

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

“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides 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.”

while you sleep amongst the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining 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 her, it snowed on Zalmon.

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

The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.

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 rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, the LORD will dwell there 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 tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is amongst them, from Sinai, into 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.

You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts amongst people, yes, amongst 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, who daily bears our burdens, 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 to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs escape 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 head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues 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 you again from Bashan, I will bring you 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 you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion 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, even the processions 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, amongst the ladies playing with tambourines,

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

“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly 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, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

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

Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.

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

Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents 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 wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the bars of silver. Scatter the nations who 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 hurry to stretch out 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! Sing praises to the Lord— (Selah)

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 are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.

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

Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, 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!

You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!