Psalms 68

1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song. Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.

2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.

4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rides upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, his name! Rejoice before him!

5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

6 God sets the solitary in families: he brings out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

7 O God, when you went forth before your people, when you did march through the wilderness; (Selah)

God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... (Selah)

8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 You, O God, did send a plentiful rain, whereby you did confirm your inheritance, when it was weary.

You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.

10 Your congregation has dwelt therein: you, O God, have prepared of your goodness for the poor.

Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.

11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.

12 Kings of armies did flee swiftly: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder,

13 Though all of you have lien among the pots, yet shall all of you be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

while you sleep amongst the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.

15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.

16 Why leap all of you, all of you high hills? this is the hill which God desires to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever.

17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is amongst them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.

18 You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive: you have received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts amongst people, yes, amongst the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. (Selah)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.

21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses.

But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.

22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea,

23 That your foot may be dipped in the blood of your enemies, and the tongue of your dogs in the same.

that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”

24 They have seen your activities, O God; even the activities of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, amongst the ladies playing with tambourines,

26 Bless all of you God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”

27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

28 Your God has commanded your strength: strengthen, O God, that which you have wrought for us.

Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto you.

Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.

30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter you the people that delight in war.

Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.

31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing unto God, all of you kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; (Selah)

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord— (Selah)

33 To him that rides upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he does send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe all of you strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.

35 O God, you are terrible out of your holy places: the God of Israel is he that gives strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!