Psalms 68
1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David, a Song. Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Him flee before Him.
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!
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
Blow them away as if they were smoke; melt them like beeswax in a fire. Let the wicked die in God's presence.
3 But let the righteous be glad, let them exult before God; yea, let them rejoice with gladness.
But those who are right with God are happy, and they celebrate in God's presence, full of joy.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to His name; extol Him that rideth upon the skies, whose name is the LORD; and exult ye before Him.
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!
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.
He is a father to the orphans, a protector of widows. This is who God is, who lives in his holy place.
6 God maketh the solitary to dwell in a house; He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; the rebellious dwell but in a parched land.
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.
7 O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness; (Selah)
God, when you led your people out, when you marched through the desert, (Selah)
8 The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God; even yon Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
the earth quaked, and the heavens shook before God, the one of Sinai; before God, the God of Israel.
9 A bounteous rain didst Thou pour down, O God; when Thine inheritance was weary, Thou didst confirm it.
You sent plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.
10 Thy flock settled therein; Thou didst prepare in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.
Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. (Selah)
11 The Lord giveth the word; the women that proclaim the tidings are a great host.
The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
12 Kings of armies flee, they flee; and she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.
The kings of the foreign armies are quick to run away, and the women who stayed at home divide the plunder!
13 When ye lie among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her pinions with the shimmer of gold.
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.
14 When the Almighty scattereth kings therein, it snoweth in Zalmon.
The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
“Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, Mount Bashan,
16 Why look ye askance, ye mountains of peaks, at the mountain which God hath desired for His abode? Yea, the LORD will dwell therein for ever.
why do you look enviously, mountain with many peaks, at the mountain God chose as his home, where the Lord will live forever?
17 The chariots of God are myriads, even thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in holiness.
God's chariots can't be counted; there are thousands and thousands of them. He comes among them from Sinai into his Temple.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive; Thou hast received gifts among men, yea, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.
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.
19 Blessed be the Lord, day by day He beareth our burden, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)
May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens. God is our salvation. (Selah)
20 God is unto us a God of deliverances; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues of death.
For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape from death.
21 Surely God will smite through the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of him that goeth about in his guiltiness.
But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy heads of those who continue to sin.
22 The Lord said: 'I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
The Lord says, “I will drag them down from Bashan; I will drag them up from the depths of the sea,
23 That thy foot may wade through blood, that the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from thine enemies.'
so that you may walk in their blood. Even your dogs will have their share of your enemies.”
24 They see Thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, in holiness.
People watch your processions, God—the processions of my God and King as they go into the Temple.
25 The singers go before, the minstrels follow after, in the midst of damsels playing upon timbrels.
The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
26 'Bless ye God in full assemblies, even the Lord, ye that are from the fountain of Israel.'
Praise God, everyone who has come to worship; praise the Lord, everyone who belongs to Israel.
27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah their council, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
There is the little tribe of Benjamin, followed by the many leaders from Judah; then come the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength; be strong, O God, Thou that hast wrought for us
Display your power, God! Reveal your strength, Lord, as you have done for us in the past.
29 Out of Thy temple at Jerusalem, whither kings shall bring presents unto Thee.
Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, every one submitting himself with pieces of silver; He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war!
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!
31 Nobles shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands unto God.
Let Egypt come with bronze gifts; let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; (Selah)
Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. (Selah)
33 To Him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which are of old; lo, He uttereth His voice, a mighty voice.
Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens, his strong voice sounding like thunder!
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God; His majesty is over Israel, and His strength is in the skies.
Let everyone know of God's power: how his majesty extends over Israel, how his strength is revealed in the heavens.
35 Awful is God out of thy holy places; the God of Israel, He giveth strength and power unto the people; blessed be God.
How awesome is God in his Temple! The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people! Praise God!
