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 Jehovah, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the hill of his holiness.
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 is known in her palaces as a high fortress.
4 Many kings gathered [with their armies] to attack [that city],
For behold, 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, — so they marvelled; they were troubled, they fled in consternation:
6 Because they were very afraid, they trembled like a woman who is about to give birth to a child;
Trembling took hold upon them there; anguish, as of a woman in travail.
7 they shook [like] ships sailing from Tarshish are shaken by a strong wind.
With an east wind thou hast broken 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 have we seen, in the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God doth establish it for ever. (Selah)
9 God, [here] in your temple we think about how you faithfully love us.
We have thought, O God, of thy loving-kindness, 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.
According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto 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 rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, 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: count the towers thereof;
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 for ever and ever; he will be our guide until death.
