Psalms 48

1 A Psalm of praise for the sons of Core on the second [day] of the week. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

“A song and psalm by the sons of Korach.” Great is the Lord, and highly praised in the city of our God, [in] his holy mountain.

2 The city of the great King is well planted [on] the mountains of Sion, with the joy of the whole earth, [on] the sides of the north.

A beautiful district, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, the farthest north, the city of the great King.

3 God is known in her palaces, when he undertakes to help her.

God is become known in her palaces as a defence.

4 For, behold the kings of the earth were assembled, they came together.

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they are passed away together.

5 They saw, and so they wondered: they were troubled, they were moved.

They indeed saw—[and] so they were astonished; they were terrified, they were confounded.

6 Trembling took hold on them: there were the pangs as of a woman in travail.

Trembling seized on them there, pain, as on a woman in travail.

7 You will break the ships of Tharsis with a vehement wind.

With the east wind thou breakest the ships of Tharshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we also seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God has founded it for ever. (Pause)

As we have heard, so have we seen [it] in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. (Selah)

9 We have thought of your mercy, O God, in the midst of your people.

We have reflected on thy kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

10 According to your name, O God, so is also your praise to the ends of the earth: your right hand is full of righteousness.

As thy name is, O God, so is thy praise over the ends of the earth: of righteousness is thy right hand full.

11 Let mount Sion rejoice, let the daughters of Judaea exult, because of your judgments, O Lord.

Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

12 Go round about Sion, and encompass her: tell you her towers.

Compass Zion about, and walk round about her; number her towers.

13 Mark you well her strength, and observe her palaces; that you may tell the next generation.

Direct your mind to her outer wall, mark carefully her palaces: in order that ye may tell it to the latest generation.

14 For this is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide for evermore.

For this One is God, our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.