Psalms 48

1 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.

“A song and psalm by the sons of Korach.” Great is the Lord, and highly praised in the city of our God, [in] his holy mountain.

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

A beautiful district, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, the farthest north, the city of the great King.

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

God is become known in her palaces as a defence.

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

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they are passed away together.

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

They indeed saw—[and] so they were astonished; they were terrified, they were confounded.

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

Trembling seized on them there, pain, as on a woman in travail.

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

With the east wind thou breakest the ships of Tharshish.

8 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)

As we have heard, so have we seen [it] in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. (Selah)

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

We have reflected on thy kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

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

As thy name is, O God, so is thy praise over the ends of the earth: of righteousness is thy right hand full.

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

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

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

Compass Zion about, and walk round about her; number her towers.

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

Direct your mind to her outer wall, mark carefully her palaces: in order that ye may tell it to the latest generation.

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

For this One is God, our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.