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!
To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. A Song. Let God be seen, and let his haters be put to flight; let those who are against him be turned back before him.
2 Blow them away as if they were smoke; melt them like beeswax in a fire. Let the wicked die in God's presence.
Let them be like smoke before the driving wind; as wax turning soft before the fire, so let them come to an end before the power of God.
3 But those who are right with God are happy, and they celebrate in God's presence, full of joy.
But let the upright be glad; let them have delight before God; let them be full of 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!
Make songs to God, make songs of praise to his name; make a way for him who comes through the waste lands; his name is Jah; be glad 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 to those who have no father, a judge of the widows, is God in his holy place.
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.
Those who are without friends, God puts in families; he makes free those who are in chains; but those who are turned away from him are given a dry 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, wandering through the waste land; (Selah)
8 the earth quaked, and the heavens shook before God, the one of Sinai; before God, the God of Israel.
The earth was shaking and the heavens were streaming, because God was present; even Sinai itself was moved before God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.
You, O God, did freely send the rain, giving strength to the weariness of your heritage.
10 Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. (Selah)
Those whose resting-place was there, even the poor, were comforted by your good things, O God.
11 The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
The Lord gives the word; great is the number of the women who make it public.
12 The kings of the foreign armies are quick to run away, and the women who stayed at home divide the plunder!
Kings of armies quickly go in flight: and the women in the houses make a division of their goods.
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.
Will you take your rest among the flocks? like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and its feathers with yellow gold.
14 The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
When the Most High put the kings to flight, it was as white as snow in Salmon.
15 “Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, Mount Bashan,
A hill of God is the hill of Bashan; a hill with high tops is the hill of 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 are you looking with envy, you high hills, on the hill desired by God as his resting-place? truly, God will make it his house for ever.
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 war-carriage of God is among Israel's thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai to the holy place.
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 gone up on high, taking your prisoners with you; you have taken offerings from men; the Lord God has taken his place on the seat of his power.
19 May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens. God is our salvation. (Selah)
Praise be to the Lord, who is our support day by day, even the God of our salvation. (Selah)
20 For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape from death.
Our God is for us a God of salvation; his are the ways out of death.
21 But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy heads of those who continue to sin.
The heads of the haters of God will be crushed; even the head of him who still goes on in his evil 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 make them come back from Bashan, and from the deep parts of the sea;
23 so that you may walk in their blood. Even your dogs will have their share of your enemies.”
So that your foot may be red with blood, and the tongues of your dogs with the same.
24 People watch your processions, God—the processions of my God and King as they go into the Temple.
We see your going, O God: even the going of my God, my King, into the holy place.
25 The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
The makers of songs go before, the players of music come after, among the young girls playing on brass instruments.
26 Praise God, everyone who has come to worship; praise the Lord, everyone who belongs to Israel.
Give praise to God in the great meeting; even the Lord, you who come 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 little Benjamin ruling them, the chiefs of Judah and their army, the rulers of Zebulun and the rulers of Naphtali.
28 Display your power, God! Reveal your strength, Lord, as you have done for us in the past.
O God, send out your strength; the strength, O God, with which you have done great things for us,
29 Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
Out of your Temple in Jerusalem.
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!
Say sharp words to the beast among the water-plants, the band of strong ones, with the lords of the peoples, put an end to the people whose delight is in war.
31 Let Egypt come with bronze gifts; let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
Kings will give you offerings, they will come out of Egypt; from Pathros will come offerings of silver; Ethiopia will be stretching out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. (Selah)
Make songs to God, you kingdoms of the earth; O make songs of praise to the Lord; (Selah)
33 Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens, his strong voice sounding like thunder!
To him who goes or the clouds of heaven, the heaven which was from earliest times; he sends out his voice of power.
34 Let everyone know of God's power: how his majesty extends over Israel, how his strength is revealed in the heavens.
Make clear that strength is God's: he is lifted up over Israel, and his power is in the clouds.
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 to be feared in your holy place: the God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God.
