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 Chief Musician. David’s. A Melody, a Song. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered, Yea let them that 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 about, Let them be driven about, —As wax is melted before a fire, Let the lawless perish before 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 ye to God, Make music of his Name, —Lift up (a song), to him that rideth through the waste plains, —Since Yah is his name, exult ye before him.

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 advocate of 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, is he that causeth the solitary to dwell in a home, That bringeth out prisoners into prosperity, But, the rebellious, have made their habitation in a sunburnt 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 camest forth before thy people, When thou didst stride 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.

Earth, trembled, Yea, the heavens, dripped at the presence of God, —This 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.

A bounteous rain, dost thou shed abroad, O God, upon thine inheritance, When exhausted, thou thyself, hast supported it:

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

Thy living host, have remained therein, Thou dost provide, in thy bounty, for the humbled ones—O God!

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

Let, My Lord, but give the word, The herald bands, will be a mighty host:

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

Kings of armies, they flee! they flee! And, she that stayeth at home, shall share 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 rest between the folds, The wings of the dove, shall be covered with silver, And, her pinions, with green-shimmering 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 scattereth kings therein, It will gleam like snow in the gloom:

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

A mighty mountain, is the mountain of Bashan, A mountain of peaks, 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.

Wherefore start ye up, ye mountains, ye peaks? The mountain God hath coveted for his habitation, Surely, Yahweh will inhabit it 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 two myriads—thousands repeated, My Lord, is among them Sinai, is 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 in procession a body of captives, Thou hast received gifts consisting of men, Yea even the rebellious, That, Yah, Elohim, might settle down to rest.

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

Blessed be My Lord! Day by day, he beareth our burden for 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.

The GOD we have, is a GOD of saving deeds, And, due to Yahweh, My Lord, are escapes from death.

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

Yea, God himself, will smite through the head of his foes, —The hairy crown of him that is marching on in his guilty deeds.

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

Said My Lord, From Bashan, will I bring back, —I will 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.

That thou mayest bathe thy foot in blood, —The tongue of thy dogs, from the foes, hath its portion.

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

They have seen thy progress O God, The progress 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.

In front are the singers, Behind are the harpers, In the midst of damsels playing on timbrels:

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

In the congregations, bless ye God, My Lord, from among the called 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 Benjamin, the Diminutive—ruling them, The princes of Judah—their throng, The princes of Zebulun, The princes of Naphtali.

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

Thy God hath commanded thy strength, —The strength, O God, which thou hast wrought for us.

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

Because of thy temple above Jerusalem, Unto thee, shall kings bear along a gift—

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 thou, The wild beast of the reeds, The herd of mighty oxen among the calves of the peoples—Each one bowing down with bars of silver, —Scatter thou the peoples, who in wars take delight.

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

Ambassadors come out of Egypt, The Ethiopian, eagerly stretcheth out his hands, unto God.

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

Ye kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God, Praise in song Adonay. (Selah)

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

Unto him that rideth upon the most ancient heavens, Lo! he uttereth his voice, a voice of strength.

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

Ascribe ye strength unto God, —Over Israel, is his majesty, And his strength, in the skies. To be revered is God, for his sanctuary, —

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.

As for the GOD of Israel, he, is giving strength and abundant might to the people. Blessed be God!