Psalms 48

1 A song; a psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God on his holy mountain.

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

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

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].

3 God has made himself known in her palaces as a refuge.

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

4 For, see, the kings assembled themselves; they passed by together.

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

5 They saw it, then they were amazed; they were dismayed, and they hurried away.

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

6 Trembling took hold of them there, pain as when a woman is in labor.

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

7 With the east wind you break the ships of Tarshish.

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

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

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.

9 We have thought about your covenant faithfulness, God, in the middle of your temple.

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

10 As your name is, God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth; your right hand is full of righteousness.

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

11 Let Mount Zion be glad, let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your righteous decrees.

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.

12 Walk around Mount Zion, go round about her; count her towers,

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

13 notice well her walls, and look at her palaces so that you may tell it to the next generation.

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

14 For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide to death.

[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.”