Psalms 48

1 A SONG. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. Great [is] YHWH, and greatly praised, In the city of our God—His holy hill.

A Song. A Psalm. Of the sons of Korah. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, in the town of our God, in his holy mountain.

2 Beautiful [for] elevation, A joy of all the land, [is] Mount Zion, The sides of the north, the city of [the] great King.

Beautiful in its high position, the joy of all the earth, is the mountain of Zion, the mountain of God, the town of the great King.

3 God is known for a tower in her high places.

In its buildings God is seen to be a high tower.

4 For behold, the kings met, they passed by together,

For see! the kings came together by agreement, they were joined together.

5 They have seen—so they have marveled, They have been troubled, they were hurried away.

They saw it, and so were full of wonder; they were troubled, and went quickly away in fear.

6 Trembling has seized them there, Pain, as of a travailing woman.

Shaking came on them and pain, as on a woman in childbirth.

7 By an east wind You shatter ships of Tarshish.

By you the ships of Tarshish are broken as by an east wind.

8 As we have heard, so we have seen, In the city of YHWH of hosts, In the city of our God, God establishes her for all time. (Selah)

As it came to our ears so have we seen it, in the town of the Lord of armies, in the town of our God; God will keep it fixed for ever. (Selah)

9 We have thought, O God, of Your kindness, In the midst of Your temple,

Our thoughts were of your mercy, O God, while we were in your Temple.

10 As [is] Your Name, O God, so [is] Your praise, Over the ends of the earth, Righteousness has filled Your right hand.

As your name is, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth; your right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Mount Zion rejoices, The daughters of Judah are joyful, For the sake of Your judgments.

Let there be joy in the mountain of Zion, and let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your wise decisions.

12 Surround Zion, and go around her, count her towers,

Make your way about Zion, and go round it, numbering its towers.

13 Set your heart to her bulwark, Consider her high places, So that you recount to a later generation,

Take note of its strong walls, looking well at its fair buildings; so that you may give word of it to the generation which comes after.

14 That this God [is] our God—For all time and forever, He leads us over death!

Because this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide.