Psalms 68

1 For the leader. Of David. A psalm. A song. God arises, his enemies scatter: they who hate him flee before him.

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

2 As smoke before wind is driven, as wax melts before fire, so before God vanish the wicked.

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 rejoice in God’s presence, they exult with exceeding joy.

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yes, let them exceedingly rejoice.

4 Sing to God, make music to his name, his name is the Lord, praise him who rides on the clouds, and exult in his presence.

Sing to God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rides on the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

5 Father of orphans, defender of widows, is God in his holy abode.

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

6 God brings home the lonely, he leads forth the prisoner to comfort, so that none but the rebel lives cheerless.

God sets the solitary in families: he brings out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

7 God, when you went in front of your people in your march through the desert, (Selah)

O God, when you went forth before your people, when you did march through the wilderness; (Selah)

8 earth shook, the heavens poured rain at the presence of God, Sinai’s God at the presence of God, Israel’s God.

The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 Rain in abundance, God, you did sprinkle, restoring the languishing land of your heritage.

You, O God, did send a plentiful rain, whereby you did confirm your inheritance, when it was weary.

10 A dwelling therein your people found: in your goodness, O God, you did care for the poor.

Your congregation has dwelled therein: you, O God, have prepared of your goodness for the poor.

11 The Lord spoke the glad tidings of victory, a great army of women proclaim it:

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

12 ‘Kings of armies they flee, they flee, and the housewife divides the spoil:

Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

13 dove’s wings covered with silver and pinions with shimmer of gold,

Though you have lien among the pots, yet shall you be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

14 set with stones, like snow upon Zalmon.’

When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan, a mountain of peaks is the mountain of Bashan.

The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

16 You high-peaked mountains, why look you askance at the mountain which God has desired for his home whereon the Lord will live forever?

Why leap you, you high hills? this is the hill which God desires to dwell in; yes, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand: the Lord came from Sinai, his holy place.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

18 You did mount the height with trains of your captives, and gifts that you had received from the people. The rebels shall live with the Lord God.

You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive: you have received gifts for men; yes, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

19 Blest be the Lord who sustains us daily, the God who is also our saviour. (Selah)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. (Selah)

20 Our God is a God who is saviour. The ways of escape from death are known to the Lord God.

He that is our God is the God of salvation; and to GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

21 Yes, God will shatter the head of his foes the rough scalp of those who strut on in their sins.

But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses.

22 The Lord said: ‘I will bring you home from Bashan, home from the depths of the sea,

The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

23 that your feet you may bathe in blood, and your dogs lick their share of the foe.’

That your foot may be dipped in the blood of your enemies, and the tongue of your dogs in the same.

24 In the temple appear God’s triumphal processions, processions in praise of my king and my God,

They have seen your goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

25 with singers in front, and minstrels behind, and maidens with timbrels between them, singing,

The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with tambourines.

26 ‘You of the well-spring of Israel, bless the Lord God in the dance.’

Bless you God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

27 There, in front, is Benjamin the little, the princes of Judah beside them, the princes of Zebulon, princes of Naphtali.

There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

28 God, show your strength, your godlike might, as you did in the past,

Your God has commanded your strength: strengthen, O God, that which you have worked for us.

29 from your temple that crowns Jerusalem. Kings shall bring tribute to you.

Because of your temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents to you.

30 Rebuke the beast of the reed, the herd of bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Trample down the lovers of lies. Scatter the nations whose joy is in war.

Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter you the people that delight in war.

31 May they come from Egypt with gifts of oil, Ethiopia haste with full hands to God.

Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, O you kingdoms of earth, make melody to the Lord. (Selah)

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises to the Lord; (Selah)

33 Praise him who rides on the ancient heavens. See! He utters his voice, his mighty voice.

To him that rides on the heavens of heavens, which were of old; see, he does send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe strength to the God over Israel, whose strength and majesty live in the skies.

Ascribe you strength to God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

35 Awe-inspiring is God in his holy place, it is Israel’s God who gives strength and might to his people. Blessed be God.

O God, you are terrible out of your holy places: the God of Israel is he that gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.