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 chief musician; A psalm of David, a song. Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered; let those also 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 in 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; may they rejoice and be happy.

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! Praise the one who rides through the plains of the Jordan River valley! Yahweh is his name! Rejoice 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, a judge of the widows, is God in the holy place where he lives.

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 puts the lonely into families; he brings out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a parched land.

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

God, when you went out before your people, when you 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 rain in God's presence, in the presence of God when he came to Sinai, in 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.

You, God, sent a plentiful rain; you strengthened your inheritance when it was weary.

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

Your people lived in it; You, God, gave from your goodness to the poor.

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

The Lord gave the orders, and those who announced them were a great army.

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

Kings of armies flee, they flee, and the women waiting at home divide the plunder:

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.

doves covered with silver with wings of yellow gold. When some of you people stayed among the sheepfolds, why did you do this?

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

The Almighty scattered kings there, it was as when it snowed on Mount Zalmon.

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

A mighty mountain is the hill country of Bashan; a high mountain is the hill country 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 look in envy, you high hill country, at the mountain which God desires for the place he will live? Indeed, Yahweh will live 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, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them in the holy place, as at Sinai.

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 led away captives; you have received gifts from among men, even from those who fought against you, so that you, Yahweh God, might live there.

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

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, 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.

Our God is a God who saves; Yahweh the Lord is the one who is able to rescue us from death.

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

But God will strike through the heads of his enemies, through the hairy scalps of those who walk in offenses against him.

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 my enemies back from Bashan; I will bring them 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 may crush your enemies, dipping your foot in blood, and so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from your enemies.”

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

They have seen your processions, God, the processions of my God, my King, into the holy place.

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

The singers went first, the minstrels followed after, and in the middle were the unmarried girls playing tambourines.

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

Bless God in the assemblies; praise Yahweh, you who are 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 first Benjamin, the smallest tribe, then the leaders of Judah and their multitudes, the leaders of Zebulun and the leaders of Naphtali.

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

Your God, Israel, has decreed your strength; reveal to us your power, God, as you have revealed it in times past.

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

Reveal your power to us from your temple at Jerusalem, where kings bring gifts 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.

Shout in battle against the wild beasts in the reeds, against the peoples, that multitude of bulls and calves. Humiliate them and make them bring you gifts; scatter the peoples who love to wage war.

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

Princes will come out of Egypt; Cush will hurry to reach out with her hands to God.

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

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; (Selah) Sing praises to Yahweh.

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 on the heaven of heavens, which exist from ancient times; see, he lifts up his voice with power.

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

Ascribe strength to God; his majesty 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.

God, you are fearsome in your holy place; the God of Israel—he gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.