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 the sons of Korah.” Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, upon 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.

Beautiful in its elevation is Mount Zion, The joy of the whole earth; The joy of the farthest North is the city of the great king;

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

In her palaces God is known as a refuge.

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

For, lo! kings were assembled against it; They passed away together.

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

As soon as they saw, they were astonished; They were confounded, and hasted away.

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

There terror seized upon them, —Pain, as of a woman in travail;

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

As when the east wind breaketh in pieces The ships of Tarshish.

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 will establish it for ever. (Pause)

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

We think of thy loving-kindness, 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.

As thy name, O God! so thy praise, extendeth to the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness.

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

Mount Zion rejoiceth, The daughters of Judah exult, On account of thy righteous judgments.

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

Go round about Zion; number 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.

Mark well her bulwarks; count her palaces; That ye may tell it to the next generation!

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

For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide unto death.