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 for the sons of Korah. Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness.

2 Mount Zion is being founded with the exultation of the whole earth, on the north side, the city of the great king.

Beautiful for situation, 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 is known in her palaces for a refuge.

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

For lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

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

They saw [it], [and] so they wondered; they were troubled, [and] hasted away.

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

Fear took hold upon them there, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail.

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

Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

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 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 thought of thy loving-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.

According to thy name, O God, so [is] thy praise to the ends of the earth: thy 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 rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

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

Walk about Zion, and go round 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.

Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell [it] to the generation following.

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

For this God [is] our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide [even] to death.