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.

Yahweh is great, and he deserves to be greatly praised in the city where he [lives], [which is built on Zion], his sacred hill.

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.

That city, on a high [hill], is beautiful; it is the city where the true [God], the great king, [lives], and it causes people all over the world to rejoice [when they see it].

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

God is in the strong towers there, and he shows that he protects the people in that city.

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

Many kings gathered [with their armies] to attack [that city],

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

but when they saw it, they were amazed; they became terrified, and ran away.

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

Because they were very afraid, they trembled like a woman who is about to give birth to a child;

7 You will break the ships of Tharsis with a vehement wind.

they shook [like] ships sailing from Tarshish are shaken by a strong 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)

We had heard [that this city is glorious], and now we have seen that it is. It is the city in which Yahweh, the almighty one, [lives]. It is the city which God will preserve/protect forever.

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

God, [here] in your temple we think about how you faithfully love us.

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

You [MTY] are famous and (are praised/people praise you) all over the earth, because you rule powerfully [MTY] and justly.

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

The people who live near Zion Hill should be happy! The people in [all] the cities [MTY] in Judah should rejoice because you judge people fairly.

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

[You Israeli people should] walk around Zion [Hill] and count the towers there;

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

notice the walls there and examine the forts in order that you can tell about them to your children.

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

[Say to them], “This is [the city that belongs to] our God, [the one who lives] forever; he will guide us all of our lives.”