Psalms 68
1 “For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” Let God arise, and his enemies are scattered, And they who hate him flee before him!
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song. Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.
2 As smoke is dispersed, so thou dispersest them; As wax melteth before the fire, So perish the wicked before the face of God.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But the righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence, Yea, they exult exceedingly.
But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing unto God; sing praises to his name! Prepare a way for him who rideth through the desert! Jehovah is his name; be joyful in his presence!
Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, his name! Rejoice before him!
5 The father of the fatherless, and the protector of the widow, Is God in his holy habitation.
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God causeth the forsaken to dwell in houses; He leadeth forth to prosperity them that are bound; But the rebellious shall dwell in a barren land.
God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
7 O God! when thou didst go before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness. (Pause)
God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... (Selah)
8 The earth quaked, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God; This Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God! didst send a plentiful rain; Thou didst strengthen thy wearied inheritance.
You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.
10 Thy people established themselves in the land; Thou, O God! in thy goodness, didst prepare it for the needy!
Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the song of victory Of the maidens publishing glad tidings to the mighty host.
The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
12 “The kings with their armies have fled, —have fled! And the matron at home divideth the spoil.
“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder,
13 Truly ye may repose yourselves in the stalls, Like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her feathers with shining gold.”
while you sleep amongst the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.
14 When the Most High destroyed the kings in the land, It was white [[with their bones]] like Salmon.
When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.
15 Ye lofty hills, ye hills of Bashan, Ye many-topped hills, ye hills of Bashan,
The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.
16 Why frown ye, ye many-topped hills, At the hill in which God is pleased to dwell, In which Jehovah will dwell for ever?
Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever.
17 The chariots of God are myriads, yea, thousands of thousands; The Lord is in the midst of them, as upon Sinai, in the sanctuary.
The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is amongst them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive the vanquished, Thou hast received gifts among men, Even the rebellious, that here thou mightst dwell, O LORD God!
You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts amongst people, yes, amongst the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.
19 Praised be the Lord daily! When we are heavy-laden, the Mighty One is our help.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)
20 Our God is a God of salvation; From the Lord Jehovah cometh deliverance from death.
God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21 But God smiteth the head of his enemies, Even the hairy crowns of those who go on in their iniquity.
But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
22 “I will bring them back,” saith the Lord, “from Bashan; I will bring them back from the deep sea;
The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea,
23 That thy foot may be dipped in their blood, That thy dogs may drink the blood of thine enemies.”
that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
24 We have seen thy procession, O God! The procession of my God, my king, to his sanctuary!
They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers go before, the minstrels follow, Amidst damsels playing on timbrels.
The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, amongst the ladies playing with tambourines,
26 Praise ye God in your assemblies; Praise the Lord, all ye from the fountain of Israel!
“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
27 Here is Benjamin, the youngest, and his leaders; The chiefs of Judah, and their band; The chiefs of Zebulon, and the chiefs of Naphtali.
There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God has ordained thy strength, [[O Israel!]] Show forth thy might, O God! thou who hast wrought for us!
Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
29 Because of thy temple in Jerusalem Shall kings bring presents to thee.
Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of bulls with the calves of the nations, So that they shall cast themselves down with masses of silver; Scatter thou the nations that delight in war!
Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste with outstretched hands to God.
Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.
32 Ye kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; Sing praises to Jehovah;
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord— (Selah)
33 To him who rideth upon the ancient heaven of heavens! Behold, he uttereth his voice, his mighty voice!
to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
34 Give glory to God, Whose majesty is in Israel, and whose might is in the clouds!
Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.
35 Terrible art thou, O God! from thy sanctuary! The God of Israel giveth strength and power to his people. Praised be God!
You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!
