Psalms 48

1 A psalm of a canticle, for the sons of Core, on the second day of the week. Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

Yahweh is great, and he deserves to be greatly praised in the city where he [lives], [which is built on Zion], his sacred hill.

2 With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.

That city, on a high [hill], is beautiful; it is the city where the true [God], the great king, [lives], and it causes people all over the world to rejoice [when they see it].

3 In her houses shall God be known, when he shall protect her.

God is in the strong towers there, and he shows that he protects the people in that city.

4 For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves: they gathered together.

Many kings gathered [with their armies] to attack [that city],

5 So they saw, and they wondered, they were troubled, they were moved:

but when they saw it, they were amazed; they became terrified, and ran away.

6 Trembling took hold of them. There were pains as of a woman in labour.

Because they were very afraid, they trembled like a woman who is about to give birth to a child;

7 With a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis.

they shook [like] ships sailing from Tarshish are shaken by a strong wind.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God hath founded it for ever.

We had heard [that this city is glorious], and now we have seen that it is. It is the city in which Yahweh, the almighty one, [lives]. It is the city which God will preserve/protect forever.

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

God, [here] in your temple we think about how you faithfully love us.

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

You [MTY] are famous and (are praised/people praise you) all over the earth, because you rule powerfully [MTY] and justly.

11 Let mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Juda be glad; because of thy judgments, O Lord.

The people who live near Zion Hill should be happy! The people in [all] the cities [MTY] in Judah should rejoice because you judge people fairly.

12 Surround Sion, and encompass her: tell ye in her towers.

[You Israeli people should] walk around Zion [Hill] and count the towers there;

13 Set your hearts on her strength; and distribute her houses, that ye may relate it in another generation.

notice the walls there and examine the forts in order that you can tell about them to your children.

14 For this is God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and ever: he shall rule us for evermore.

[Say to them], “This is [the city that belongs to] our God, [the one who lives] forever; he will guide us all of our lives.”