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.

TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM. A SONG OF DAVID. God rises [and] His enemies are scattered! And those hating Him flee from His face.

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.

You drive them away as the driving away of smoke, As the melting of wax before fire, 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.

And the righteous rejoice, they exult before God, And they 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—praise His Name, Raise up a highway for Him who is riding in deserts, In YAH [is] His Name, and exult before Him.

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

Father of the fatherless, and 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—causing the lonely to dwell at home, Bringing out bound ones into prosperity, Only—the stubborn have inhabited a dry place.

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

O God, in Your going forth before Your people, In Your stepping 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 has shaken, Indeed, the heavens have dropped before God, This Sinai—before 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.

You shake out a shower of free-will gifts, O God. Your inheritance, when it has been weary, You have established it.

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

Your creature has dwelt in it, You prepare for the poor in Your goodness, O God.

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

The Lord gives the saying, The female proclaimers [are] a numerous host.

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

Kings of hosts utterly flee away, And a female inhabitant of the house apportions 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 you lie between two boundaries, 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 Mighty spreads kings in it, it snows in Salmon.

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

A hill of God [is] the hill of Bashan, A hill of heights [is] the hill 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 do you envy, O high hills, The hill God has desired for His seat? YHWH also dwells 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] myriads, thousands of changes, The Lord [is] among them, 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.

You have ascended on high, You have taken captivity captive, You have taken gifts for men, That even the stubborn may rest, O YAH God.

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

Blessed [is] the Lord, day by day He lays on us. God Himself [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 Himself [is] to us a God for deliverances, And YHWH Lord has the outgoings of death.

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

Only—God strikes The head of His enemies, The hairy crown of a habitual walker in his guilt.

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

The Lord said: “From Bashan I bring back, I bring back 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.

So that you dash your foot In the blood of enemies—the tongue of Your dogs.”

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

They have seen Your goings, O God, Goings of my God, my king, in the sanctuary.

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

Singers have been before, Behind [are] players on instruments, Virgins playing with timbrels in the midst.

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

In assemblies bless God, The Lord—from 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, Heads of Judah their defense, Heads of Zebulun—heads of Naphtali.

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

Your God has commanded your strength, Be strong, O God, You have worked this for us.

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

Because of Your temple at Jerusalem, Kings bring a present to You.

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 a beast of the reeds, a herd of bulls, With calves of the peoples, Each humbling himself with pieces of silver, You scatter peoples delighting in conflicts.

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

Fat ones come out of Egypt, Cush causes her hands to run to God.

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

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, Praise 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 is riding on the heavens of the heavens of old, Behold, He gives with His voice a strong voice.

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

Ascribe strength to God, His excellence [is] over Israel, and His strength in the clouds.

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.

Fearful, O God, out of Your sanctuaries, The God of Israel Himself, Giving strength and might to the people. Blessed [is] God!