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 Melodious Song. For the Sons of Korah. Great is Yahweh, and worthy to be mightily praised, In the city of our God, 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 all the land, Is Mount Zion, in the recesses of the north, —The city of a great king.
3 God is in the strong towers there, and he shows that he protects the people in that city.
God, in her palaces, is to be known as a high tower.
4 Many kings gathered [with their armies] to attack [that city],
For lo! Kings—Met as appointed, Passed by together;
5 but when they saw it, they were amazed; they became terrified, and ran away.
They themselves, saw, So, were they amazed, Dismayed—they hurried way!
6 Because they were very afraid, they trembled like a woman who is about to give birth to a child;
Trembling, seized them, there, Pangs. like hers who is in travail.
7 they shook [like] ships sailing from Tarshish are shaken by a strong wind.
With an east wind, wilt thou shatter 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.
Just as we have heard, So, have we seen, In the city of Yahweh of hosts, In the city of our God, God himself, will establish her, unto times age-abiding. (Selah)
9 God, [here] in your temple we think about how you faithfully love us.
We have thought, O God, upon thy lovingkindness, 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, be thy praise, unto the ends of the earth, With righteousness, is, thy right hand, filled.
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 exult, Because of thy judgments.
12 [You Israeli people should] walk around Zion [Hill] and count the towers there;
Go round Zion, and compass her about, Reckon up her towers;
13 notice the walls there and examine the forts in order that you can tell about them to your children.
Apply your mind to her rampart, Pass between her palaces, That ye may recount them to an after generation;
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, to times age-abiding and beyond, He himself, will conduct us till death.
