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; a psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God on 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.

Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

3 In her houses, God will be known, since he will support her.

God has made himself known in her palaces as a refuge.

4 For behold, the kings of the earth have been gathered together; they have convened as one.

For, see, the kings assembled themselves; they passed by together.

5 Such did they see, and they were astonished: they were disturbed, they were moved.

They saw it, then they were amazed; they were dismayed, and they hurried away.

6 Trembling took hold of them. In that place, their pains were that of a woman in labor.

Trembling took hold of them there, pain as when a woman is in labor.

7 With a vehement spirit, you will crush the ships of Tarshish.

With the east wind you break the ships of Tarshish.

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 in the city of Yahweh of hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it forever. (Selah)

9 We have received your mercy, O God, in the midst of your temple.

We have thought about your covenant faithfulness, God, in the middle of your 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 your name is, God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth; your right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let mount Zion rejoice, and let the daughters of Judah exult, because of your judgments, O Lord.

Let Mount Zion be glad, let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your righteous decrees.

12 Encircle Zion and embrace her. Discourse in her towers.

Walk around Mount Zion, go round about her; count her towers,

13 Set your hearts on her virtue. And distribute her houses, so that you may discourse of it in another generation.

notice well her walls, and look at her palaces so that you may tell it to the next generation.

14 For this is God, our God, in eternity and forever and ever. He will rule us forever.

For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide to death.