Psalms 48

1 “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.

Yahweh is great, and he deserves to be greatly praised in the city where he [lives], [which is built on Zion], his sacred hill.

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

That city, on a high [hill], is beautiful; it is the city where the true [God], the great king, [lives], and it causes people all over the world to rejoice [when they see it].

3 God is become known in her palaces as a defence.

God is in the strong towers there, and he shows that he protects the people in that city.

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

Many kings gathered [with their armies] to attack [that city],

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

but when they saw it, they were amazed; they became terrified, and ran away.

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

Because they were very afraid, they trembled like a woman who is about to give birth to a child;

7 With the east wind thou breakest the ships of Tharshish.

they shook [like] ships sailing from Tarshish are shaken by a strong wind.

8 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)

We had heard [that this city is glorious], and now we have seen that it is. It is the city in which Yahweh, the almighty one, [lives]. It is the city which God will preserve/protect forever.

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

God, [here] in your temple we think about how you faithfully love us.

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

You [MTY] are famous and (are praised/people praise you) all over the earth, because you rule powerfully [MTY] and justly.

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

The people who live near Zion Hill should be happy! The people in [all] the cities [MTY] in Judah should rejoice because you judge people fairly.

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

[You Israeli people should] walk around Zion [Hill] and count the towers there;

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

notice the walls there and examine the forts in order that you can tell about them to your children.

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

[Say to them], “This is [the city that belongs to] our God, [the one who lives] forever; he will guide us all of our lives.”