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 the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain 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 for situation, 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 for a refuge.

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

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

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

They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

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

Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

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

You break the ships of Tarshish with 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 we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. (Selah)

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

We have thought of your loving kindness, O God, in the midst of your 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 your name, O God, so is your praise unto 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 mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your judgments.

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

Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

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

Mark all of you well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that all of you 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 even unto death.