Psalms 68
1 For the music director. A psalm of David. A song. Stand up, God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate him run away from him!
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence.
2 Blow them away as if they were smoke; melt them like beeswax in a fire. Let the wicked die in God's presence.
As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.
3 But those who are right with God are happy, and they celebrate in God's presence, full of joy.
But the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy.
4 Sing praises to God! Sing praises to his wonderful reputation! Praise the rider of the clouds—his name is the Lord! Be happy in his presence!
Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds — His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him.
5 He is a father to the orphans, a protector of widows. This is who God is, who lives in his holy place.
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.
6 God gives those who are abandoned a family to live with. He sets prisoners free with celebration. But those who rebel live in a desert wasteland.
God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
7 God, when you led your people out, when you marched through the desert, (Selah)
O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland,
8 the earth quaked, and the heavens shook before God, the one of Sinai; before God, the God of Israel.
the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.
You sent abundant rain, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. (Selah)
Your flock settled therein; O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor.
11 The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:
12 The kings of the foreign armies are quick to run away, and the women who stayed at home divide the plunder!
“Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.
13 Why are you staying at home? There are ornaments in the shape of a dove with wings of silver and feathers of fine gold to be taken.
Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.”
14 The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like the snow falling on Zalmon.
15 “Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, Mount Bashan,
A mountain of God is Mount Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.
16 why do you look enviously, mountain with many peaks, at the mountain God chose as his home, where the Lord will live forever?
Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling, where the LORD will surely dwell forever.
17 God's chariots can't be counted; there are thousands and thousands of them. He comes among them from Sinai into his Temple.
The chariots of God are tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
18 As you ascended to your high throne you led a procession of prisoners. You received gifts from the people, even from those who had rebelled against the home of the Lord God.
You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
19 May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens. God is our salvation. (Selah)
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation.
20 For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape from death.
Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.
21 But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy heads of those who continue to sin.
Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.
22 The Lord says, “I will drag them down from Bashan; I will drag them up from the depths of the sea,
The Lord said, “I will retrieve them from Bashan, I will bring them up from the depths of the sea,
23 so that you may walk in their blood. Even your dogs will have their share of your enemies.”
that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes— the tongues of your dogs in the same.”
24 People watch your processions, God—the processions of my God and King as they go into the Temple.
They have seen Your procession, O God— the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.
25 The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.
26 Praise God, everyone who has come to worship; praise the Lord, everyone who belongs to Israel.
Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.
27 There is the little tribe of Benjamin, followed by the many leaders from Judah; then come the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
28 Display your power, God! Reveal your strength, Lord, as you have done for us in the past.
Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.
29 Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.
30 Condemn the beasts of the reeds, the bulls and calves! May they be humbled and bring bars of silver in tribute! Scatter the war-loving nations!
Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, until it submits, bringing bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
31 Let Egypt come with bronze gifts; let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. (Selah)
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord—
33 Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens, his strong voice sounding like thunder!
to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.
34 Let everyone know of God's power: how his majesty extends over Israel, how his strength is revealed in the heavens.
Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.
35 How awesome is God in his Temple! The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people! Praise God!
O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
