Psalms 68

1 To the chief Musician. Of David. A Psalm: a Song. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered, and let them that hate him flee before him.

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered. Let also those who hate him flee before him.

2 As smoke is driven, thou wilt drive them away; as wax melteth before the fire, the wicked shall perish at the presence of 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 the righteous shall rejoice: they shall exult before God and be glad with joy.

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

4 Sing unto God, sing forth his name; cast up a way for him that rideth in the deserts: his name is Jah; and rejoice before him.

Sing to God, sing praises to his name. Cast up a highway for him who rides through the deserts. His name is Jehovah, and exult ye before him.

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

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

6 God maketh the solitary into families; those that were bound he bringeth out into prosperity: but the rebellious dwell in a parched [land].

God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners into prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness (Selah)

O God, when thou went forth before thy people, when thou marched through the wilderness (Selah)

8 The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God, yon Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

the earth trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God, Sinai at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 Thou, O God, didst pour a plentiful rain upon thine inheritance, and when it was weary thou strengthenedst it.

Thou, O God, sent a plentiful rain. Thou confirmed thine inheritance when it was weary.

10 Thy flock hath dwelt therein: thou hast prepared in thy goodness, for the afflicted, O God!

Thy congregation dwelt in it. Thou, O God, prepared for the poor from thy goodness.

11 The Lord gives the word: great the host of the publishers.

The Lord gave the word. Great was the company of those who published it.

12 Kings of armies flee; they flee, and she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.

Kings of armies fled quickly, and she who remained at home divided the spoil.

13 Though ye have lain among the sheepfolds, [ye shall be as] wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with green gold.

Though ye lie between two boundaries, it is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her pinions with yellow gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it became snow-white as Zalmon.

When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was as it snows in Zalmon.

15 [As] mount Bashan is the mount of God, a many-peaked mountain, [as] mount Bashan.

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.

16 Why do ye look with envy, ye many-peaked mountains, upon the mount that God hath desired for his abode? yea, Jehovah will dwell [there] for ever.

Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, at the mountain which God has desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it forever.

17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them: it is a Sinai in holiness.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the sanctuary.

18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts in Man, and even [for] the rebellious, for the dwelling [there] of Jah Elohim.

Thou have ascended on high. Thou have led captivity captive. Thou have received gifts among men, yea, among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell with them.

19 Blessed be the Lord: day by day doth he load us [with good], the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

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

20 Our God is the God of salvation; and with Jehovah, the Lord, are the goings forth [even] from death.

God is to us a God of deliverances, and escape from death belongs to Jehovah the Lord.

21 Verily God will smite the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of him that goeth on still in his trespasses.

But God will smite through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of him who still goes in his guiltiness.

22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring [them] again from the depth of the sea;

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

23 That thou mayest dip thy foot in blood: the tongue of thy dogs has its portion from enemies.

that thou may dash thy foot in blood, that the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from enemies.

24 They have seen thy goings, O God, the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

They have seen thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

25 The singers went before, the players on stringed instruments after, in the midst of maidens playing on tabrets.

The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.

26 In the congregations bless ye God, the Lord, — [ye] from the fountain of Israel.

Bless ye God in the congregations, the lord of the fountain of Israel.

27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler; the princes of Judah, their company; the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

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

28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

Thy God has commanded thy strength. Strengthen, O God, that which thou have wrought for us.

29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

Because of thy temple at Jerusalem kings shall bring presents to thee.

30 Rebuke the beast of the reeds, the assembly of the strong, with the calves of the peoples: [every one] submitteth himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the peoples that delight in war.

Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, trampling under foot the pieces of silver. He has scattered the peoples that delight in war.

31 Great ones shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall quickly stretch out her hands unto God.

Rulers shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

32 Ye kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; sing psalms of the Lord, (Selah)

Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth. O sing praises to the Lord (Selah)

33 Of him that rideth upon the heavens, the heavens which are of old: lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.

to him who rides upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old. Lo, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

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

35 Terrible art thou, O God, out of thy sanctuaries, — the God of Israel! He it is that giveth strength and might unto the people. Blessed be God!

O God, awesome out of thy holy places, the God of Israel, he gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.