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.
A Song. A Psalm. Of the sons of Korah. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, in the town 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 its high position, the joy of all the earth, is the mountain of Zion, the mountain of God, the town of the great King.
3 God is in the strong towers there, and he shows that he protects the people in that city.
In its buildings God is seen to be a high tower.
4 Many kings gathered [with their armies] to attack [that city],
For see! the kings came together by agreement, they were joined together.
5 but when they saw it, they were amazed; they became terrified, and ran away.
They saw it, and so were full of wonder; they were troubled, and went quickly away in fear.
6 Because they were very afraid, they trembled like a woman who is about to give birth to a child;
Shaking came on them and pain, as on a woman in childbirth.
7 they shook [like] ships sailing from Tarshish are shaken by a strong wind.
By you the ships of Tarshish are broken as by an east wind.
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 it came to our ears so have we seen it, in the town of the Lord of armies, in the town of our God; God will keep it fixed for ever. (Selah)
9 God, [here] in your temple we think about how you faithfully love us.
Our thoughts were of your mercy, O God, while we were in your Temple.
10 You [MTY] are famous and (are praised/people praise you) all over the earth, because you rule powerfully [MTY] and justly.
As your name is, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth; your 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 there be joy in the mountain of Zion, and let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your wise decisions.
12 [You Israeli people should] walk around Zion [Hill] and count the towers there;
Make your way about Zion, and go round it, numbering its towers.
13 notice the walls there and examine the forts in order that you can tell about them to your children.
Take note of its strong walls, looking well at its fair buildings; so that you may give word of it to the generation which comes after.
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.”
Because this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide.
