Psalms 68

1 “To the chief musician, by David, a Psalm or song.” Oh that God would arise, that his enemies might be scattered, and those that hate him might flee before him.

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered. Let also those who hate him flee before him.

2 As smoke is driven off, so drive them away: as wax melteth 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 the righteous shall rejoice; they shall exult before God: yea, they shall be exceedingly joyful.

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

4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name; extol him who rideth upon the heavens: the Everlasting is his name, and rejoice before him.

Sing to God, sing praises to his name. Cast up a highway for him who rides through the deserts. His name is Jehovah, and exult ye 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 judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

6 God places those who are solitary in the midst of their families: he bringeth out those who are bound unto happiness; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners into prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people, when thou didst tread along through the wilderness—Selah—

O God, when thou went forth before thy people, when thou marched through the wilderness (Selah)

8 The earth quaked, also the heavens dropped at the presence of God, yea, this Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

the earth trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God, Sinai at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 Rain of beneficence didst thou pour down, O God, whereby thou didst truly strengthen thy heritage, when it was weary.

Thou, O God, sent a plentiful rain. Thou confirmed thine inheritance when it was weary.

10 Thy assembly dwelt therein: thou didst prepare it with thy goodness for the afflicted [people]. O God,

Thy congregation dwelt in it. Thou, O God, prepared for the poor from thy goodness.

11 The Lord gave [happy] tidings; they are published by the female messengers, a numerous host.

The Lord gave the word. Great was the company of those who published it.

12 The kings of the armies flee away—flee away: yet she that tarried at home divideth the spoil.

Kings of armies fled quickly, and she who remained at home divided the spoil.

13 When ye lie still between the folds [of your cattle], [ye will be like] the wings of the dove covered with sliver, and her pinions shining with flaming gold.

Though ye lie between two boundaries, it is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her pinions with yellow gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in the midst of her, then even in darkness shone light [as pure] as snow.

When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was as it snows in Zalmon.

15 A mountain of God is the mount of Bashan; many peaks hath the mount of Bashan.

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.

16 Why watch ye enviously, ye many-peaked mountains, yonder mountain which God hath chosen for his residence? yea, the Lord will also dwell [there] for ever.

Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, at the mountain which God has desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it forever.

17 The chariots of God are two myriads; thousands of angels [follow him]: the Lord is among them: so is Sinai holy [among mountains].

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the sanctuary.

18 Thou didst ascend on high, lead away captives, receive gifts among men, yea, even the rebellious, to dwell among them. O Lord God.

Thou have ascended on high. Thou have led captivity captive. Thou have received gifts among men, yea, among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell with them.

19 Blessed be the Lord; day by day he loadeth us [with benefits]; our God is our salvation. (Selah)

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

20 Our God is to us the God of salvation: and by the Eternal the Lord are the escapes from death.

God is to us a God of deliverances, and escape from death belongs to Jehovah the Lord.

21 But God will crush the head of his enemies, the hairy skull of him who walketh in his guiltiness.

But God will smite through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of him who still goes in his guiltiness.

22 The Lord hath said, From Bashan will I bring back, I will bring back from the depths of the sea:

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

23 In order that thou mayest wade with thy feet in blood, feeding the tongue of thy dogs from the enemies' blood.

that thou may dash thy foot in blood, that the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from enemies.

24 Men see thy goings forth, O God! the goings forth of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

They have seen thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

25 First come singers, then follow players on instruments, in the midst of maidens playing on timbrels.

The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.

26 In assemblies bless ye God, [praise] the Lord, ye sprung from Israel's fountain.

Bless ye God in the congregations, the lord of the fountain of Israel.

27 There Benjamin the youngest leadeth them on, the princes of Judah in purple robes, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

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

28 Thy God hath ordained the rule to thee: strengthen, O God, what thou hast wrought for us.

Thy God has commanded thy strength. Strengthen, O God, that which thou have wrought for us.

29 Because of thy temple over Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

Because of thy temple at Jerusalem kings shall bring presents to thee.

30 Rebuke the wild beasts hiding among the reeds, the troops of steers among the calves of nations, that hasten along with presents of silver. He scattereth nations that are eager for the fight.

Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, trampling under foot the pieces of silver. He has scattered the peoples that delight in war.

31 Nobles will come out of Egypt: Ethiopia will stretch forth eagerly her hands unto God.

Rulers shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

32 Kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; sing praises unto the Lord: (Selah)

Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth. O sing praises to the Lord (Selah)

33 To him who rideth over the highest heavens, of ancient days: hear! he sendeth forth his voice, the voice of might.

to him who rides upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old. Lo, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the skies.

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

35 Thou art tremendous, O God, from thy holy residences: O God of Israel, [thou art] he that givest strength and power unto [thy] people. Blessed be God.

O God, awesome out of thy holy places, the God of Israel, he gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.