Psalms 48

1 Yahweh is great, and he deserves to be greatly praised in the city where he [lives], [which is built on Zion], his sacred hill.

Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

2 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].

Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

3 God is in the strong towers there, and he shows that he protects the people in that city.

God has made himself known in her palaces for a refuge.

4 Many kings gathered [with their armies] to attack [that city],

For, lo, the kings assembled themselves. They passed by together.

5 but when they saw it, they were amazed; they became terrified, and ran away.

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

6 Because they were very afraid, they trembled like a woman who is about to give birth to a child;

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

7 they shook [like] ships sailing from Tarshish are shaken by a strong wind.

With the east wind thou break the ships of Tarshish.

8 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.

As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God, God will establish it forever. (Selah)

9 God, [here] in your temple we think about how you faithfully love us.

We have thought on thy loving kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

10 You [MTY] are famous and (are praised/people praise you) all over the earth, because you rule powerfully [MTY] and justly.

As is thy name, O God, so is thy praise to the ends of the earth. Thy right hand is full of righteousness.

11 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.

Let mount Zion be glad. Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of thy judgments.

12 [You Israeli people should] walk around Zion [Hill] and count the towers there;

Walk about Zion, and go round about her. Number the towers of it,

13 notice the walls there and examine the forts in order that you can tell about them to your children.

mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following.

14 [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.”

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