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 David. A psalm. A song. God arises, his enemies scatter: 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 before wind is driven, as wax melts before fire, so before God vanish the wicked.
3 But those who are right with God are happy, and they celebrate in God's presence, full of joy.
But the righteous rejoice in God’s presence, they exult with exceeding 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, make music to his name, his name is the Lord, praise him who rides on the clouds, and exult 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.
Father of orphans, defender of widows, is God in his holy abode.
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 brings home the lonely, he leads forth the prisoner to comfort, so that none but the rebel lives cheerless.
7 God, when you led your people out, when you marched through the desert, (Selah)
God, when you went in front of your people in your march through the desert, (Selah)
8 the earth quaked, and the heavens shook before God, the one of Sinai; before God, the God of Israel.
earth shook, the heavens poured rain at the presence of God, Sinai’s God at the presence of God, Israel’s God.
9 You sent plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.
Rain in abundance, God, you did sprinkle, restoring the languishing land of your heritage.
10 Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. (Selah)
A dwelling therein your people found: in your goodness, O God, you did care for the poor.
11 The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
The Lord spoke the glad tidings of victory, a great army 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 of armies they flee, they flee, and the housewife divides 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.
dove’s wings covered with silver and pinions with shimmer of gold,
14 The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
set with stones, like snow upon Zalmon.”
15 “Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, Mount Bashan,
A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan, a mountain of peaks is the mountain 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?
You high-peaked mountains, why look you askance at the mountain which God has desired for his home whereon the Lord will live 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 twice ten thousand: the Lord came from Sinai, his 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 did mount the height with trains of your captives, and gifts that you had received from the people. The rebels shall live with the Lord God.
19 May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens. God is our salvation. (Selah)
Blest be the Lord who sustains us daily, the God who is also our savior. (Selah)
20 For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape from death.
Our God is a God who is savior. The ways of escape from death are known to the Lord God.
21 But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy heads of those who continue to sin.
Yes, God will shatter the head of his foes the rough scalp of those who strut on in their sins.
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 you home from Bashan, home 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 feet you may bathe in blood, and your dogs lick their share of the foe.”
24 People watch your processions, God—the processions of my God and King as they go into the Temple.
In the temple appear God’s triumphal processions, processions in praise of my king and my God,
25 The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
with singers in front, and minstrels behind, and maidens with timbrels between them, singing,
26 Praise God, everyone who has come to worship; praise the Lord, everyone who belongs to Israel.
“You of the well-spring of Israel, bless the Lord God in the dance.”
27 There is the little tribe of Benjamin, followed by the many leaders from Judah; then come the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
There, in front, is Benjamin the little, the princes of Judah beside them, the princes of Zebulon, princes of Naphtali.
28 Display your power, God! Reveal your strength, Lord, as you have done for us in the past.
God, show your strength, your godlike might, as you did in the past,
29 Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
from your temple that crowns Jerusalem. Kings shall bring tribute 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 beast of the reed, the herd of bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Trample down the lovers of lies. Scatter the nations whose joy is in war.
31 Let Egypt come with bronze gifts; let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
May they come from Egypt with gifts of oil, Ethiopia haste with full hands to God.
32 Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. (Selah)
Sing to God, O you kingdoms of earth, make melody to the Lord. (Selah)
33 Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens, his strong voice sounding like thunder!
Praise him who rides on the ancient heavens. See! He utters 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.
Ascribe strength to the God over Israel, whose strength and majesty live in the skies.
35 How awesome is God in his Temple! The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people! Praise God!
Awe-inspiring is God in his holy place, it is Israel’s God who gives strength and might to his people. Blessed be God.
