Psalms 48

1 A Song. A Psalm. Of the sons of Korah. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, in the town of our God, in his holy mountain.

A psalm of a canticle, for the sons of Core, on the second day of the week. Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

2 Beautiful in its high position, the joy of all the earth, is the mountain of Zion, the mountain of God, the town of the great King.

With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.

3 In its buildings God is seen to be a high tower.

In her houses shall God be known, when he shall protect her.

4 For see! the kings came together by agreement, they were joined together.

For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves: they gathered together.

5 They saw it, and so were full of wonder; they were troubled, and went quickly away in fear.

So they saw, and they wondered, they were troubled, they were moved:

6 Shaking came on them and pain, as on a woman in childbirth.

Trembling took hold of them. There were pains as of a woman in labour.

7 By you the ships of Tarshish are broken as by an east wind.

With a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis.

8 As it came to our ears so have we seen it, in the town of the Lord of armies, in the town of our God; God will keep it fixed for ever. (Selah)

As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God hath founded it for ever.

9 Our thoughts were of your mercy, O God, while we were in your Temple.

We have received thy mercy, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

10 As your name is, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth; your right hand is full of righteousness.

According to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of justice.

11 Let there be joy in the mountain of Zion, and let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your wise decisions.

Let mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Juda be glad; because of thy judgments, O Lord.

12 Make your way about Zion, and go round it, numbering its towers.

Surround Sion, and encompass her: tell ye in her towers.

13 Take note of its strong walls, looking well at its fair buildings; so that you may give word of it to the generation which comes after.

Set your hearts on her strength; and distribute her houses, that ye may relate it in another generation.

14 Because this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide.

For this is God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and ever: he shall rule us for evermore.