Psalms 48

1 A Song; a Psalm. Of the sons of Korah. Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the hill of his holiness.

For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. The Lord is supreme! He deserves praise in the city of our God on his holy mountain.

2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Mount Zion is high and beautiful, bringing happiness to all the earth; on the northern side is the city of the great King.

3 God is known in her palaces as a high fortress.

God himself is in the city's fortresses; he is recognized as its defender.

4 For behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together;

Look at what happened when foreign kings joined forces and came to attack the city.

5 They saw, — so they marvelled; they were troubled, they fled in consternation:

As soon as they saw it they were astonished and ran away terrified.

6 Trembling took hold upon them there; anguish, as of a woman in travail.

They shook all over, and were in agonizing pain like a woman giving birth,

7 With an east wind thou hast broken the ships of Tarshish.

just as the strong east wind wrecks the ships from Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God doth establish it for ever. (Selah)

Just as we had heard, but now we have seen the city of the Lord Almighty. This is the city of our God; he makes it secure forever. (Selah)

9 We have thought, O God, of thy loving-kindness, in the midst of thy temple.

God, we recall your trustworthy love as we worship in the Temple.

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

As is fitting for your reputation, God, praises to you stretch all around the world. What you do is always right!

11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

Let the people of Mount Zion be glad; let the people of Judah celebrate because your judgments are always fair!

12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: count the towers thereof;

Go and take a look at Zion. Count the towers as you walk around.

13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces: that ye may tell it to the generation following.

Inspect the fortifications. Examine the citadels, so you can describe everything to the next generation, telling them:

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide until death.

“This is who our God is. He is our God forever and ever. He himself will lead us until the very end.”