Psalms 68

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm [or] Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence.

2 As smoke is driven away, [so] drive [them] away: as wax melteth before the fire, [so] let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.

3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yes, let them exceedingly rejoice.

But the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds — His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him.

5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, [is] God in his holy habitation.

A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.

6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those who are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry [land].

God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; (Selah)

O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland,

8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: [even] Sinai itself [was moved] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, by which thou didst confirm thy inheritance, when it was weary.

You sent abundant rain, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance.

10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

Your flock settled therein; O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor.

11 The LORD gave the word: great [was] the company of those that published [it].

The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:

12 Kings of armies fled apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

“Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.

13 Though ye have lain among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.”

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was [white] as snow in Salmon.

When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like the snow falling on Zalmon.

15 The hill of God [is as] the hill of Bashan; a high hill [as] the hill of Bashan.

A mountain of God is Mount Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.

16 Why leap ye, ye lofty hills? [this is] the hill [which] God desireth to dwell in; yes, the LORD will dwell [in it] for ever.

Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling, where the LORD will surely dwell forever.

17 The chariots of God [are] twenty thousand, [even] thousands of angels: the LORD [is] among them, [as in] Sinai, in the holy [place].

The chariots of God are tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.

18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yes, [for] the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell [among them].

You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.

19 Blessed [be] the LORD, [who] daily loadeth us [with benefits], [even] the God of our salvation. (Selah)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation.

20 [He that is] our God [is] the God of salvation; and to God the LORD [belong] the issues from death.

Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.

21 But God will wound the head of his enemies, [and] the hairy scalp of such one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.

22 The LORD said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring [my people] again from the depths of the sea.

The Lord said, “I will retrieve them from Bashan, I will bring them up from the depths of the sea,

23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thy enemies, [and] the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes— the tongues of your dogs in the same.”

24 They have seen thy goings, O God; [even] the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

They have seen Your procession, O God— the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.

25 The singers went before, the players on instruments [followed] after; among [them were] the damsels playing with timbrels.

The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.

26 Bless ye God in the congregations, [even] the LORD, from the fountain of Israel.

Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.

27 There [is] little Benjamin [with] their ruler, the princes of Judah [and] their counsel, the princes of Zebulun, [and] the princes of Naphtali.

There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.

29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents to thee.

Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.

30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, [till every one shall] submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people [that] delight in war.

Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, until it submits, bringing bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.

31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Cush shall soon stretch out her hands to God.

Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises [to] the LORD; (Selah)

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord—

33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, [which were] of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, [and that] a mighty voice.

to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.

34 Ascribe ye strength to God: his excellence [is] over Israel, and his strength [is] in the clouds.

Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.

35 O God, [thou art] terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel [is] he that giveth strength and power to [his] people. Blessed [be] God.

O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!