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 leader of the music. A psalm of David.” Let God arise, and his enemies are scattered, And they who hate him flee 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 is dispersed, so thou dispersest them; As wax melteth before the fire, So perish the wicked before the face 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 are glad and rejoice in his presence, Yea, they exult exceedingly.
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 unto God; sing praises to his name! Prepare a way for him who rideth through the desert! Jehovah is his name; be joyful in his presence!
5 He is a father to the orphans, a protector of widows. This is who God is, who lives in his holy place.
The father of the fatherless, and the protector of the widow, 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 causeth the forsaken to dwell in houses; He leadeth forth to prosperity them that are bound; But the rebellious shall dwell in a barren land.
7 God, when you led your people out, when you marched through the desert, (Selah)
O God! when thou didst go before thy people, When thou didst march 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, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God; This Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.
Thou, O God! didst send a plentiful rain; Thou didst strengthen thy wearied inheritance.
10 Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. (Selah)
Thy people established themselves in the land; Thou, O God! in thy goodness, didst prepare it for the needy!
11 The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
The Lord gave the song of victory Of the maidens publishing glad tidings to the mighty host.
12 The kings of the foreign armies are quick to run away, and the women who stayed at home divide the plunder!
“The kings with their armies have fled, —have fled! And the matron at home divideth the spoil.
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.
Truly ye may repose yourselves in the stalls, Like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her feathers with shining gold.”
14 The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
When the Most High destroyed the kings in the land, It was white [[with their bones]] like Salmon.
15 “Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, Mount Bashan,
Ye lofty hills, ye hills of Bashan, Ye many-topped hills, ye hills 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 frown ye, ye many-topped hills, At the hill in which God is pleased to dwell, In which Jehovah will dwell 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 myriads, yea, thousands of thousands; The Lord is in the midst of them, as upon Sinai, in the sanctuary.
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.
Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive the vanquished, Thou hast received gifts among men, Even the rebellious, that here thou mightst dwell, O LORD God!
19 May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens. God is our salvation. (Selah)
Praised be the Lord daily! When we are heavy-laden, the Mighty One is our help.
20 For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape from death.
Our God is a God of salvation; From the Lord Jehovah cometh deliverance from death.
21 But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy heads of those who continue to sin.
But God smiteth the head of his enemies, Even the hairy crowns of those who go on in their iniquity.
22 The Lord says, “I will drag them down from Bashan; I will drag them up from the depths of the sea,
“I will bring them back,” saith the Lord, “from Bashan; I will bring them back from the deep sea;
23 so that you may walk in their blood. Even your dogs will have their share of your enemies.”
That thy foot may be dipped in their blood, That thy dogs may drink the blood of thine enemies.”
24 People watch your processions, God—the processions of my God and King as they go into the Temple.
We have seen thy procession, O God! The procession of my God, my king, to his sanctuary!
25 The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
The singers go before, the minstrels follow, Amidst damsels playing on timbrels.
26 Praise God, everyone who has come to worship; praise the Lord, everyone who belongs to Israel.
Praise ye God in your assemblies; Praise the Lord, all ye 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.
Here is Benjamin, the youngest, and his leaders; The chiefs of Judah, and their band; The chiefs of Zebulon, and the chiefs of Naphtali.
28 Display your power, God! Reveal your strength, Lord, as you have done for us in the past.
Thy God has ordained thy strength, [[O Israel!]] Show forth thy might, O God! thou who hast wrought for us!
29 Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
Because of thy temple in Jerusalem Shall kings bring presents to thee.
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 beast of the reeds, The multitude of bulls with the calves of the nations, So that they shall cast themselves down with masses of silver; Scatter thou the nations that delight in war!
31 Let Egypt come with bronze gifts; let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste with outstretched hands to God.
32 Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. (Selah)
Ye kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; Sing praises to Jehovah;
33 Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens, his strong voice sounding like thunder!
To him who rideth upon the ancient heaven of heavens! Behold, he uttereth his voice, his mighty voice!
34 Let everyone know of God's power: how his majesty extends over Israel, how his strength is revealed in the heavens.
Give glory to God, Whose majesty is in Israel, and whose might 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!
Terrible art thou, O God! from thy sanctuary! The God of Israel giveth strength and power to his people. Praised be God!
