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 music director. A psalm of David. A song. Stand up, God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate him run away from him!
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.
Blow them away as if they were smoke; melt them like beeswax in a fire. Let the wicked die in God's presence.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yes, let them exceedingly rejoice.
But those who are right with God are happy, and they celebrate in God's presence, full of 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 praises to God! Sing praises to his wonderful reputation! Praise the rider of the clouds—his name is the Lord! Be happy in his presence!
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, [is] God in his holy habitation.
He is a father to the orphans, a protector of widows. This is who God is, who lives in his holy place.
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 gives those who are abandoned a family to live with. He sets prisoners free with celebration. But those who rebel live in a desert wasteland.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; (Selah)
God, when you led your people out, when you marched through the desert, (Selah)
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 quaked, and the heavens shook before God, the one of 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 plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. (Selah)
11 The LORD gave the word: great [was] the company of those that published [it].
The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
12 Kings of armies fled apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
The kings of the foreign armies are quick to run away, and the women who stayed at home divide 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.
Why are you staying at home? There are ornaments in the shape of a dove with wings of silver and feathers of fine gold to be taken.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was [white] as snow in Salmon.
The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
15 The hill of God [is as] the hill of Bashan; a high hill [as] the hill of Bashan.
“Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, 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 look enviously, mountain with many peaks, at the mountain God chose as his home, where the Lord will live 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].
God's chariots can't be counted; there are thousands and thousands of them. He comes among them from Sinai into his Temple.
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].
As you ascended to your high throne you led a procession of prisoners. You received gifts from the people, even from those who had rebelled against the home of the Lord God.
19 Blessed [be] the LORD, [who] daily loadeth us [with benefits], [even] the God of our salvation. (Selah)
May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens. God is our salvation. (Selah)
20 [He that is] our God [is] the God of salvation; and to God the LORD [belong] the issues from death.
For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape 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.
But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy heads of those who continue to sin.
22 The LORD said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring [my people] again from the depths of the sea.
The Lord says, “I will drag them down from Bashan; I will drag 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.
so that you may walk in their blood. Even your dogs will have their share of your enemies.”
24 They have seen thy goings, O God; [even] the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
People watch your processions, God—the processions of my God and King as they go into the Temple.
25 The singers went before, the players on instruments [followed] after; among [them were] the damsels playing with timbrels.
The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, [even] the LORD, from the fountain of Israel.
Praise God, everyone who has come to worship; praise the Lord, everyone who belongs to 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 the little tribe of Benjamin, followed by the many leaders from Judah; then come the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
Display your power, God! Reveal your strength, Lord, as you have done for us in the past.
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents to thee.
Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
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.
Condemn the beasts of the reeds, the bulls and calves! May they be humbled and bring bars of silver in tribute! Scatter the war-loving nations!
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Cush shall soon stretch out her hands to God.
Let Egypt come with bronze gifts; let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
32 Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises [to] the LORD; (Selah)
Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. (Selah)
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.
Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens, his strong voice sounding like thunder!
34 Ascribe ye strength to God: his excellence [is] over Israel, and his strength [is] in the clouds.
Let everyone know of God's power: how his majesty extends over Israel, how his strength is revealed in the heavens.
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.
How awesome is God in his Temple! The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people! Praise God!
