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 end, a Psalm of a Song by David. Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; and let them that hate him flee from 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.
As smoke vanishes, let them vanish: as wax melts before the fire, so let the sinners perish from before God.
3 But those who are right with God are happy, and they celebrate in God's presence, full of joy.
But let the righteous rejoice; let them exult before God: let them be delighted 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: make a way for him that rides upon the west (the Lord is his name) and exult before him. They shall be troubled before the face of him,
5 He is a father to the orphans, a protector of widows. This is who God is, who lives in his holy place.
[who is] the father of the orphans, and judge of the widows: [such 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.
God settles the solitary in a house; leading forth prisoners mightily, also them that act provokingly, [even] them that dwell in tombs.
7 God, when you led your people out, when you marched through the desert, (Selah)
O God, when you went forth before your people, when you went through the wilderness; (Pause)
8 the earth quaked, and the heavens shook before God, the one of Sinai; before God, the God of Israel.
the earth quaked, yes, the heavens dropped [water] at the presence of the God of Sina, at the presence of the God of Israel.
9 You sent plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.
O God, you will grant to your inheritance a gracious rain; for it was weary, but you did refresh it.
10 Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. (Selah)
Your creatures dwell in it: you have in your goodness prepared for the poor.
11 The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
The Lord God will give a word to them that preach [it] in a great company.
12 The kings of the foreign armies are quick to run away, and the women who stayed at home divide the plunder!
The king of the forces of the beloved, of the beloved, [will] even [grant them] for the beauty of the house to divide the spoils.
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.
Even if you should lie amongst the lots, [you shall have] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her breast with yellow gold.
14 The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
When the heavenly One scatters kings upon it, they shall be made snow-white in Selmon.
15 “Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, Mount Bashan,
The mountain of God is a rich mountain; a swelling mountain, a rich mountain.
16 why do you look enviously, mountain with many peaks, at the mountain God chose as his home, where the Lord will live forever?
Therefore do you conceive [evil], you swelling mountains? [this is] the mountain which God has delighted to dwell in; yes, the Lord will dwell [in it] 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 chariots of God are ten thousand fold, thousands of rejoicing ones: the Lord is amongst them, in Sina, in 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 are gone up on high, you have led captivity captive, you have received gifts for man, yes, for [they were] rebellious, that you might dwell amongst them.
19 May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens. God is our salvation. (Selah)
Blessed be the Lord God, blessed be the Lord daily; and the God of our salvation shall prosper us. (Pause)
20 For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape from death.
Our God is the God of salvation; and to the Lord belong the issues from death.
21 But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy heads of those who continue to sin.
But God shall crust the heads of his enemies; the hairy crown of them that go on in their trespasses.
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 bring again from Basan, I will bring [my people] again through 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 blood, [and] the tongue of your dogs [be stained] with that of [your] enemies.
24 People watch your processions, God—the processions of my God and King as they go into the Temple.
Your goings, O God, have been seen; the goings of my God, the king, in the sanctuary.
25 The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
The princes went first, next before the players on instruments, in the midst of damsels playing on timbrels.
26 Praise God, everyone who has come to worship; praise the Lord, everyone who belongs to Israel.
Praise God in the congregations, the Lord from the fountains 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 younger [one] in ecstasy, the princes of Juda their rulers, the princes of Zabulon, the princes of Nephthali.
28 Display your power, God! Reveal your strength, Lord, as you have done for us in the past.
O God, command you your strength: strengthen, O God, this which you have wrought in us.
29 Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
Because of your temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents to you.
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 wild beasts of the reed: let the crowd of bulls with the heifers of the nations [be rebuked], so that they who have been proved with silver may not be shut out: scatter you the nations that wish for wars.
31 Let Egypt come with bronze gifts; let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
Ambassadors shall arrive out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten [to stretch out] her hand readily to God.
32 Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. (Selah)
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; sing psalms to the Lord. (Pause)
33 Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens, his strong voice sounding like thunder!
Sing to God that rides on the heaven of heaven, eastward: behold, he will utter a mighty sound with his voice.
34 Let everyone know of God's power: how his majesty extends over Israel, how his strength is revealed in the heavens.
Give you glory to God: his excellency is 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!
God is wonderful in his holy [places], the God of Israel: he will give power and strength to his people: blessed be God.
