Psalms 68

1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David, a Song. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let them also that 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 driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence 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 let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God: yea, let them rejoice with gladness.

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: cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; his name is JAH; and exult ye before him.

Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, his name! Rejoice before him!

5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, 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 setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity: but the rebellious dwell in a parched 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 wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; (Selah)

God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... (Selah)

8 The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: [even] yon 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 confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.

10 Thy congregation dwelt therein: thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor.

Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.

11 The Lord giveth the word: the women that publish the tidings are a great host.

The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.

12 Kings of armies flee, they flee: and she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.

“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder,

13 Will ye lie among the sheepfolds, [as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her pinions with yellow gold?

while you sleep amongst the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered kings therein, [it was as when] it snoweth in Zalmon.

When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.

15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; an high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.

16 Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, at the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? yea, the LORD will dwell [in it] 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 twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands: the Lord is among them, [as in] 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 [thy] captivity captive; thou hast received gifts among men, yea, [among] the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell [with them].

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 Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

20 God is unto us a God of deliverances; and unto JEHOVAH the Lord belong the issues from death.

God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.

21 But God shall smite through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his guiltiness.

But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.

22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring [them] again from the depths of the sea:

The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea,

23 That thou mayest dip thy foot in blood, that the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from [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 They have seen thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.

The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, amongst the ladies playing with tambourines,

26 Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, [ye that are] of the fountain of Israel.

“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”

27 There is little Benjamin their ruler, the princes of Judah [and] their council, the princes of Zebulun, the princes 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 hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.

29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem kings shall bring presents unto thee.

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

30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, trampling under foot the pieces of silver; he hath scattered the peoples 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 to stretch out her hands unto God.

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

32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; (Selah)

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord— (Selah)

33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which are of old; lo, he uttereth his voice, [and that] a mighty voice.

to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the skies.

Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.

35 O God, [thou art] terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto [his] people. Blessed be God.

You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!