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.

Great is Adonai, and greatly to be praised, in the city 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 elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking], on the north sides, the city of the great King.

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

In its fortresses God has revealed himself as a strong defense.

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

For, behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together.

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

They saw it, then they were amazed. They were dismayed. They hurried away.

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

Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail.

7 By an east wind You shatter ships of Tarshish.

With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish.

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 we have sh'ma ·heard obeyed·, so we have seen, in the city of Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies], in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

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

We have thought about your chesed ·loving-kindness·, God, in the middle of 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 is your name, God, so is your tehilah ·praise song· 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 Mount Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking] be glad! Let the daughters of Judah [Praised] rejoice, Because of your judgments.

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

Walk about Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking], and go around her. Number its towers.

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

Mark well her bulwarks. Consider her palaces, that you may tell it to the next generation.

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

For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.