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.
For the leader. Of David. A psalm. A song. God arises, his enemies scatter: they 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 before wind is driven, as wax melts before fire, so before God vanish the wicked.
3 But the righteous shall rejoice: they shall exult before God and be glad with joy.
But the righteous rejoice in God’s presence, they exult with exceeding joy.
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, make music to his name, his name is the Lord, praise him who rides on the clouds, and exult in his presence.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
Father of orphans, defender of widows, is God in his holy abode.
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 brings home the lonely, he leads forth the prisoner to comfort, so that none but the rebel lives cheerless.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness (Selah)
God, when you went in front of your people in your march through the desert, (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.
earth shook, the heavens poured rain at the presence of God, Sinai’s God at the presence of God, Israel’s God.
9 Thou, O God, didst pour a plentiful rain upon thine inheritance, and when it was weary thou strengthenedst it.
Rain in abundance, God, you did sprinkle, restoring the languishing land of your heritage.
10 Thy flock hath dwelt therein: thou hast prepared in thy goodness, for the afflicted, O God!
A dwelling therein your people found: in your goodness, O God, you did care for the poor.
11 The Lord gives the word: great the host of the publishers.
The Lord spoke the glad tidings of victory, a great army of women proclaim it:
12 Kings of armies flee; they flee, and she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.
“Kings of armies they flee, they flee, and the housewife divides 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.
dove’s wings covered with silver and pinions with shimmer of gold,
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it became snow-white as Zalmon.
set with stones, like snow upon 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 mountain of peaks 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.
You high-peaked mountains, why look you askance at the mountain which God has desired for his home whereon the Lord will live 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 twice ten thousand: the Lord came from Sinai, his holy place.
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.
You did mount the height with trains of your captives, and gifts that you had received from the people. The rebels shall live with the Lord God.
19 Blessed be the Lord: day by day doth he load us [with good], the God who is our salvation. (Selah)
Blest be the Lord who sustains us daily, the God who is also our savior. (Selah)
20 Our God is the God of salvation; and with Jehovah, the Lord, are the goings forth [even] from death.
Our God is a God who is savior. The ways of escape from death are known to the Lord God.
21 Verily God will smite the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of him that goeth on still in his trespasses.
Yes, God will shatter the head of his foes the rough scalp of those who strut on in their sins.
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 you home from Bashan, home 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 your feet you may bathe in blood, and your dogs lick their share of the foe.”
24 They have seen thy goings, O God, the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
In the temple appear God’s triumphal processions, processions in praise of my king and my God,
25 The singers went before, the players on stringed instruments after, in the midst of maidens playing on tabrets.
with singers in front, and minstrels behind, and maidens with timbrels between them, singing,
26 In the congregations bless ye God, the Lord, — [ye] from the fountain of Israel.
“You of the well-spring of Israel, bless the Lord God in the dance.”
27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler; the princes of Judah, their company; the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
There, in front, is Benjamin the little, the princes of Judah beside them, the princes of Zebulon, princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
God, show your strength, your godlike might, as you did in the past,
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
from your temple that crowns Jerusalem. Kings shall bring tribute to you.
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 beast of the reed, the herd of bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Trample down the lovers of lies. Scatter the nations whose joy is in war.
31 Great ones shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall quickly stretch out her hands unto God.
May they come from Egypt with gifts of oil, Ethiopia haste with full hands to God.
32 Ye kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; sing psalms of the Lord, (Selah)
Sing to God, O you kingdoms of earth, make melody 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.
Praise him who rides on the ancient heavens. See! He utters his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
Ascribe strength to the God over Israel, whose strength and majesty live 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!
Awe-inspiring is God in his holy place, it is Israel’s God who gives strength and might to his people. Blessed be God.
