< Psalms 48 >
1 A Canticle Psalm. To the sons of Korah, on the second Sabbath. The Lord is great and exceedingly praiseworthy, in the city of our God, on his holy mountain.
“A song and psalm by the sons of Korach.” Great is the Lord, and highly praised in the city of our God, [in] his holy mountain.
2 Mount Zion is being founded with the exultation of the whole earth, on the north side, the city of the great king.
A beautiful district, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, the farthest north, the city of the great King.
3 In her houses, God will be known, since he will support her.
God is become known in her palaces as a defence.
4 For behold, the kings of the earth have been gathered together; they have convened as one.
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they are passed away together.
5 Such did they see, and they were astonished: they were disturbed, they were moved.
They indeed saw—[and] so they were astonished; they were terrified, they were confounded.
6 Trembling took hold of them. In that place, their pains were that of a woman in labor.
Trembling seized on them there, pain, as on a woman in travail.
7 With a vehement spirit, you will crush the ships of Tarshish.
With the east wind thou breakest the ships of Tharshish.
8 As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God. God has founded it in eternity.
As we have heard, so have we seen [it] in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. (Selah)
9 We have received your mercy, O God, in the midst of your temple.
We have reflected on thy kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
10 According to your name, O God, so does your praise reach to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of justice.
As thy name is, O God, so is thy praise over the ends of the earth: of righteousness is thy right hand full.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, and let the daughters of Judah exult, because of your judgments, O Lord.
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 Encircle Zion and embrace her. Discourse in her towers.
Compass Zion about, and walk round about her; number her towers.
13 Set your hearts on her virtue. And distribute her houses, so that you may discourse of it in another generation.
Direct your mind to her outer wall, mark carefully her palaces: in order that ye may tell it to the latest generation.
14 For this is God, our God, in eternity and forever and ever. He will rule us forever.
For this One is God, our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.