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 leader. Of David. A psalm. A song. God arises, his enemies scatter: they who hate him flee before 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.
As smoke before wind is driven, as wax melts before fire, so before God vanish the wicked.
3 But let the righteous be glad, let them exult before God; yea, let them rejoice with gladness.
But the righteous rejoice in God’s presence, they exult with exceeding 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 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 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.
Father of orphans, defender of widows, is God in his holy abode.
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 brings home the lonely, he leads forth the prisoner to comfort, so that none but the rebel lives cheerless.
7 O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness; (Selah)
God, when you went in front of your people in your march 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.
earth shook, the heavens poured rain at the presence of God, Sinai’s God at the presence of God, Israel’s God.
9 A bounteous rain didst Thou pour down, O God; when Thine inheritance was weary, Thou didst confirm it.
Rain in abundance, God, you did sprinkle, restoring the languishing land of your heritage.
10 Thy flock settled therein; Thou didst prepare in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.
A dwelling therein your people found: in your goodness, O God, you did care for the poor.
11 The Lord giveth the word; the women that proclaim the tidings are a great host.
The Lord spoke the glad tidings of victory, a great army of women proclaim it:
12 Kings of armies flee, they flee; and she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.
“Kings of armies they flee, they flee, and the housewife divides the spoil:
13 When ye lie among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her pinions with the shimmer of gold.
dove’s wings covered with silver and pinions with shimmer of gold,
14 When the Almighty scattereth kings therein, it snoweth in Zalmon.
set with stones, like snow upon Zalmon.”
15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan, a mountain of peaks is the mountain of 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.
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 The chariots of God are myriads, even thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in holiness.
The chariots of God are twice ten thousand: the Lord came from Sinai, his holy place.
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.
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 Blessed be the Lord, day by day He beareth our burden, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)
Blest be the Lord who sustains us daily, the God who is also our savior. (Selah)
20 God is unto us a God of deliverances; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues of death.
Our God is a God who is savior. The ways of escape from death are known to the Lord God.
21 Surely God will smite through the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of him that goeth about in his guiltiness.
Yes, God will shatter the head of his foes the rough scalp of those who strut on in their sins.
22 The Lord said: 'I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
The Lord said: “I will bring you home from Bashan, home 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.'
that your feet you may bathe in blood, and your dogs lick their share of the foe.”
24 They see Thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, in holiness.
In the temple appear God’s triumphal processions, processions in praise of my king and my God,
25 The singers go before, the minstrels follow after, in the midst of damsels playing upon timbrels.
with singers in front, and minstrels behind, and maidens with timbrels between them, singing,
26 'Bless ye God in full assemblies, even the Lord, ye that are from the fountain of Israel.'
“You of the well-spring of Israel, bless the Lord God in the dance.”
27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah their council, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
There, in front, is Benjamin the little, the princes of Judah beside them, the princes of Zebulon, princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength; be strong, O God, Thou that hast wrought for us
God, show your strength, your godlike might, as you did in the past,
29 Out of Thy temple at Jerusalem, whither kings shall bring presents unto Thee.
from your temple that crowns Jerusalem. Kings shall 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!
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 Nobles shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands unto God.
May they come from Egypt with gifts of oil, Ethiopia haste with full hands to God.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; (Selah)
Sing to God, O you kingdoms of earth, make melody 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.
Praise him who rides on the ancient heavens. See! He utters his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God; His majesty is over Israel, and His strength is in the skies.
Ascribe strength to the God over Israel, whose strength and majesty live in the skies.
35 Awful is God out of thy holy places; the God of Israel, He giveth strength and power unto the people; blessed be 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.
