Psalms 68

1 To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. A Song. Let God be seen, and let his haters be put to flight; let those who are against him be turned back before him.

For the Leader. A Psalm of David, a Song. Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Him flee before Him.

2 Let them be like smoke before the driving wind; as wax turning soft before the fire, so let them come to an end before the power 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 let the upright be glad; let them have delight before God; let them be full of joy.

But let the righteous be glad, let them exult before God; yea, let them rejoice with gladness.

4 Make songs to God, make songs of praise to his name; make a way for him who comes through the waste lands; his name is Jah; be glad before him.

Sing unto God, sing praises to His name; extol Him that rideth upon the skies, whose name is the LORD; and exult ye before Him.

5 A father to those who have no father, a judge of the widows, is God in his holy place.

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.

6 Those who are without friends, God puts in families; he makes free those who are in chains; but those who are turned away from him are given a dry land.

God maketh the solitary to dwell in a house; He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; the rebellious dwell but in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people, wandering through the waste land; (Selah)

O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness; (Selah)

8 The earth was shaking and the heavens were streaming, because God was present; even Sinai itself was moved 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, O God, did freely send the rain, giving strength to the weariness of your heritage.

A bounteous rain didst Thou pour down, O God; when Thine inheritance was weary, Thou didst confirm it.

10 Those whose resting-place was there, even the poor, were comforted by your good things, O God.

Thy flock settled therein; Thou didst prepare in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.

11 The Lord gives the word; great is the number of the women who make it public.

The Lord giveth the word; the women that proclaim the tidings are a great host.

12 Kings of armies quickly go in flight: and the women in the houses make a division of their goods.

Kings of armies flee, they flee; and she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.

13 Will you take your rest among the flocks? like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and its feathers with yellow gold.

When ye lie among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her pinions with the shimmer of gold.

14 When the Most High put the kings to flight, it was as white as snow in Salmon.

When the Almighty scattereth kings therein, it snoweth in Zalmon.

15 A hill of God is the hill of Bashan; a hill with high tops is the hill of Bashan.

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of peaks is the mountain of Bashan.

16 Why are you looking with envy, you high hills, on the hill desired by God as his resting-place? truly, God will make it his house for ever.

Why look ye askance, ye mountains of peaks, at the mountain which God hath desired for His abode? Yea, the LORD will dwell therein for ever.

17 The war-carriage of God is among Israel's thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai to the holy place.

The chariots of God are myriads, even thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in holiness.

18 You have gone up on high, taking your prisoners with you; you have taken offerings from men; the Lord God has taken his place on the seat of his power.

Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive; Thou hast received gifts among men, yea, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.

19 Praise be to the Lord, who is our support day by day, even the God of our salvation. (Selah)

Blessed be the Lord, day by day He beareth our burden, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

20 Our God is for us a God of salvation; his are the ways out of death.

God is unto us a God of deliverances; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues of death.

21 The heads of the haters of God will be crushed; even the head of him who still goes on in his evil ways.

Surely God will smite through the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of him that goeth about in his guiltiness.

22 The Lord said, I will make them come back from Bashan, and from the deep parts of the sea;

The Lord said: 'I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;

23 So that your foot may be red with blood, and the tongues of your dogs with the same.

That thy foot may wade through blood, that the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from thine enemies.'

24 We see your going, O God: even the going of my God, my King, into the holy place.

They see Thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, in holiness.

25 The makers of songs go before, the players of music come after, among the young girls playing on brass instruments.

The singers go before, the minstrels follow after, in the midst of damsels playing upon timbrels.

26 Give praise to God in the great meeting; even the Lord, you who come from the fountain of Israel.

'Bless ye God in full assemblies, even the Lord, ye that are from the fountain of Israel.'

27 There is little Benjamin ruling them, the chiefs of Judah and their army, the rulers of Zebulun and the rulers of Naphtali.

There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah their council, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 O God, send out your strength; the strength, O God, with which you have done great things for us,

Thy God hath commanded thy strength; be strong, O God, Thou that hast wrought for us

29 Out of your Temple in Jerusalem.

Out of Thy temple at Jerusalem, whither kings shall bring presents unto Thee.

30 Say sharp words to the beast among the water-plants, the band of strong ones, with the lords of the peoples, put an end to the people whose delight is in war.

Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, every one submitting himself with pieces of silver; He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war!

31 Kings will give you offerings, they will come out of Egypt; from Pathros will come offerings of silver; Ethiopia will be stretching out her hands to God.

Nobles shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands unto God.

32 Make songs to God, you kingdoms of the earth; O make songs of praise to the Lord; (Selah)

Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; (Selah)

33 To him who goes or the clouds of heaven, the heaven which was from earliest times; he sends out his voice of power.

To Him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which are of old; lo, He uttereth His voice, a mighty voice.

34 Make clear that strength is God's: he is lifted up over Israel, and his power is in the clouds.

Ascribe ye strength unto God; His majesty is over Israel, and His strength is in the skies.

35 O God, you are to be feared in your holy place: the God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God.

Awful is God out of thy holy places; the God of Israel, He giveth strength and power unto the people; blessed be God.