Psalms 48

1 A Song [and] Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness.

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 for situation, 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 is known in her palaces for a refuge.

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

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

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

5 They saw [it], [and] so they wondered; they were troubled, [and] hasted away.

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

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

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

7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

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 the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. (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 of thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

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

10 According to thy name, O God, so [is] thy praise to the ends of the earth: thy 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 rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

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 about Zion, and go round her: number her towers.

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

13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell [it] to the generation following.

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 for ever and ever: he will be our guide [even] 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.”