Psalms 48

1 A Psalm of praise for the sons of Core on the second [day] of the week. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

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.

2 The city of the great King is well planted [on] the mountains of Sion, with the joy of the whole earth, [on] the sides of the north.

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.

3 God is known in her palaces, when he undertakes to help her.

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

4 For, behold the kings of the earth were assembled, they came together.

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

5 They saw, and so they wondered: they were troubled, they were moved.

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

6 Trembling took hold on them: there were the pangs as of a woman in travail.

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

7 Thou wilt break the ships of Tharsis with a vehement wind.

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

8 As we have heard, so have we also seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God has founded it for ever. (Pause)

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)

9 We have thought of thy mercy, O God, in the midst of thy people.

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

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

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

11 Let mount Sion rejoice, let the daughters of Judaea exult, because of thy judgments, O Lord.

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

12 Go round about Sion, and encompass her: tell ye her towers.

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

13 Mark ye well her strength, and observe her palaces; that ye may tell the next generation.

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.

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

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