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.
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” Let God arise, and his enemies are scattered, And they 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 dispersed, so thou dispersest them; As wax melteth before the fire, So perish the wicked before the face of God.
3 But the righteous shall rejoice; they shall exult before God: yea, they shall be exceedingly joyful.
But the righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence, Yea, they exult exceedingly.
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 unto God; sing praises to his name! Prepare a way for him who rideth through the desert! Jehovah is his name; be joyful in his presence!
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
The father of the fatherless, and the protector of the widow, 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 causeth the forsaken to dwell in houses; He leadeth forth to prosperity them that are bound; But the rebellious shall dwell in a barren 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 didst go before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness. (Pause)
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 quaked, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God; This Sinai trembled 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! didst send a plentiful rain; Thou didst strengthen thy wearied inheritance.
10 Thy assembly dwelt therein: thou didst prepare it with thy goodness for the afflicted [people]. O God,
Thy people established themselves in the land; Thou, O God! in thy goodness, didst prepare it for the needy!
11 The Lord gave [happy] tidings; they are published by the female messengers, a numerous host.
The Lord gave the song of victory Of the maidens publishing glad tidings to the mighty host.
12 The kings of the armies flee away—flee away: yet she that tarried at home divideth the spoil.
“The kings with their armies have fled, —have fled! And the matron at home divideth 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.
Truly ye may repose yourselves in the stalls, Like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in the midst of her, then even in darkness shone light [as pure] as snow.
When the Most High destroyed the kings in the land, It was white [[with their bones]] like Salmon.
15 A mountain of God is the mount of Bashan; many peaks hath the mount of Bashan.
Ye lofty hills, ye hills of Bashan, Ye many-topped hills, ye hills 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 frown ye, ye many-topped hills, At the hill in which God is pleased to dwell, In which Jehovah will dwell for ever?
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, yea, thousands of thousands; The Lord is in the midst of them, as upon 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 hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive the vanquished, Thou hast received gifts among men, Even the rebellious, that here thou mightst dwell, O LORD God!
19 Blessed be the Lord; day by day he loadeth us [with benefits]; our God is our salvation. (Selah)
Praised be the Lord daily! When we are heavy-laden, the Mighty One is our help.
20 Our God is to us the God of salvation: and by the Eternal the Lord are the escapes from death.
Our God is a God of salvation; From the Lord Jehovah cometh deliverance from death.
21 But God will crush the head of his enemies, the hairy skull of him who walketh in his guiltiness.
But God smiteth the head of his enemies, Even the hairy crowns of those who go on in their iniquity.
22 The Lord hath said, From Bashan will I bring back, I will bring back from the depths of the sea:
“I will bring them back,” saith the Lord, “from Bashan; I will bring them back from the deep sea;
23 In order that thou mayest wade with thy feet in blood, feeding the tongue of thy dogs from the enemies' blood.
That thy foot may be dipped in their blood, That thy dogs may drink the blood of thine enemies.”
24 Men see thy goings forth, O God! the goings forth of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
We have seen thy procession, O God! The procession of my God, my king, to his sanctuary!
25 First come singers, then follow players on instruments, in the midst of maidens playing on timbrels.
The singers go before, the minstrels follow, Amidst damsels playing on timbrels.
26 In assemblies bless ye God, [praise] the Lord, ye sprung from Israel's fountain.
Praise ye God in your assemblies; Praise the Lord, all ye 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.
Here is Benjamin, the youngest, and his leaders; The chiefs of Judah, and their band; The chiefs of Zebulon, and the chiefs of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath ordained the rule to thee: strengthen, O God, what thou hast wrought for us.
Thy God has ordained thy strength, [[O Israel!]] Show forth thy might, O God! thou who hast wrought for us!
29 Because of thy temple over Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
Because of thy temple in Jerusalem Shall kings 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 bulls with the calves of the nations, So that they shall cast themselves down with masses of silver; Scatter thou the nations that delight in war!
31 Nobles will come out of Egypt: Ethiopia will stretch forth eagerly her hands unto God.
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste with outstretched hands to God.
32 Kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; sing praises unto the Lord: (Selah)
Ye kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; Sing praises to Jehovah;
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 rideth upon the ancient heaven of heavens! Behold, he uttereth his voice, his mighty voice!
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the skies.
Give glory to God, Whose majesty is in Israel, and whose might is 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.
Terrible art thou, O God! from thy sanctuary! The God of Israel giveth strength and power to his people. Praised be God!
