Psalms 48
1 “A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, upon his holy mountain.
Yahweh is great, and he deserves to be greatly praised in the city where he [lives], [which is built on Zion], his sacred hill.
2 Beautiful in its elevation is Mount Zion, The joy of the whole earth; The joy of the farthest North is the city of the great king;
That city, on a high [hill], is beautiful; it is the city where the true [God], the great king, [lives], and it causes people all over the world to rejoice [when they see it].
3 In her palaces God is known as a refuge.
God is in the strong towers there, and he shows that he protects the people in that city.
4 For, lo! kings were assembled against it; They passed away together.
Many kings gathered [with their armies] to attack [that city],
5 As soon as they saw, they were astonished; They were confounded, and hasted away.
but when they saw it, they were amazed; they became terrified, and ran away.
6 There terror seized upon them, —Pain, as of a woman in travail;
Because they were very afraid, they trembled like a woman who is about to give birth to a child;
7 As when the east wind breaketh in pieces The ships of Tarshish.
they shook [like] ships sailing from Tarshish are shaken by a strong wind.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it for ever. (Pause)
We had heard [that this city is glorious], and now we have seen that it is. It is the city in which Yahweh, the almighty one, [lives]. It is the city which God will preserve/protect forever.
9 We think of thy loving-kindness, O God! In the midst of thy temple!
God, [here] in your temple we think about how you faithfully love us.
10 As thy name, O God! so thy praise, extendeth to the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
You [MTY] are famous and (are praised/people praise you) all over the earth, because you rule powerfully [MTY] and justly.
11 Mount Zion rejoiceth, The daughters of Judah exult, On account of thy righteous judgments.
The people who live near Zion Hill should be happy! The people in [all] the cities [MTY] in Judah should rejoice because you judge people fairly.
12 Go round about Zion; number her towers;
[You Israeli people should] walk around Zion [Hill] and count the towers there;
13 Mark well her bulwarks; count her palaces; That ye may tell it to the next generation!
notice the walls there and examine the forts in order that you can tell about them to your children.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide unto death.
[Say to them], “This is [the city that belongs to] our God, [the one who lives] forever; he will guide us all of our lives.”
