Psalms 68

1 For the end, a Psalm of a Song by David. Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; and let them that hate him flee from before him.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song. Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.

2 As smoke vanishes, let them vanish: as wax melts before the fire, so let the sinners perish from before God.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

3 But let the righteous rejoice; let them exult before God: let them be delighted with joy.

But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name: make a way for him that rides upon the west (the Lord is his name) and exult before him. They shall be troubled before the face of him,

Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, his name! Rejoice before him!

5 [who is] the father of the orphans, and judge of the widows: [such is] God in his holy place.

A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

6 God settles the solitary in a house; leading forth prisoners mightily, also them that act provokingly, [even] them that dwell in tombs.

God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

7 O God, when you went forth before your people, when you went through the wilderness; (Pause)

God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... (Selah)

8 the earth quaked, yes, the heavens dropped [water] at the presence of the God of Sina, at the presence of the God of Israel.

The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 O God, you will grant to your inheritance a gracious rain; for it was weary, but you did refresh it.

You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.

10 Your creatures dwell in it: you have in your goodness prepared for the poor.

Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.

11 The Lord God will give a word to them that preach [it] in a great company.

The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.

12 The king of the forces of the beloved, of the beloved, [will] even [grant them] for the beauty of the house to divide the spoils.

“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder,

13 Even if you should lie amongst the lots, [you shall have] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her breast with yellow gold.

while you sleep amongst the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.

14 When the heavenly One scatters kings upon it, they shall be made snow-white in Selmon.

When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.

15 The mountain of God is a rich mountain; a swelling mountain, a rich mountain.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.

16 Therefore do you conceive [evil], you swelling mountains? [this is] the mountain which God has delighted to dwell in; yes, the Lord will dwell [in it] for ever.

Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever.

17 The chariots of God are ten thousand fold, thousands of rejoicing ones: the Lord is amongst them, in Sina, in the holy place.

The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is amongst them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.

18 You are gone up on high, you have led captivity captive, you have received gifts for man, yes, for [they were] rebellious, that you might dwell amongst them.

You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts amongst people, yes, amongst the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord God, blessed be the Lord daily; and the God of our salvation shall prosper us. (Pause)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

20 Our God is the God of salvation; and to the Lord belong the issues from death.

God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.

21 But God shall crust the heads of his enemies; the hairy crown of them that go on in their trespasses.

But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.

22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Basan, I will bring [my people] again through the depths of the sea.

The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea,

23 That your foot may be dipped in blood, [and] the tongue of your dogs [be stained] with that of [your] enemies.

that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”

24 Your goings, O God, have been seen; the goings of my God, the king, in the sanctuary.

They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

25 The princes went first, next before the players on instruments, in the midst of damsels playing on timbrels.

The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, amongst the ladies playing with tambourines,

26 Praise God in the congregations, the Lord from the fountains of Israel.

“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”

27 There is Benjamin the younger [one] in ecstasy, the princes of Juda their rulers, the princes of Zabulon, the princes of Nephthali.

There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

28 O God, command you your strength: strengthen, O God, this which you have wrought in us.

Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents to you.

Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.

30 Rebuke the wild beasts of the reed: let the crowd of bulls with the heifers of the nations [be rebuked], so that they who have been proved with silver may not be shut out: scatter you the nations that wish for wars.

Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.

31 Ambassadors shall arrive out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten [to stretch out] her hand readily to God.

Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; sing psalms to the Lord. (Pause)

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord— (Selah)

33 Sing to God that rides on the heaven of heaven, eastward: behold, he will utter a mighty sound with his voice.

to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.

34 Give you glory to God: his excellency is over Israel, and his power is in the clouds.

Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.

35 God is wonderful in his holy [places], the God of Israel: he will give power and strength to his people: blessed be God.

You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!