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 Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song. Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before 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.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

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

But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.

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! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to the LORD, his name! 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 sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, 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)

God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... (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 trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of 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, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.

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

Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.

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

The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.

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

“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” 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.

while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.

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

When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.

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

The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.

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 in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, the LORD will dwell there 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 and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.

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 away captives. You have received gifts among people, yes, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might 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 burdens, even the God who 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.

God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs 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 strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.

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 bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again 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 you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”

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

They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my 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 went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines,

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

“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly 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 little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

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

Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.

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

Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents 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.

Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the 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.

Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to 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, you 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.

to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.

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

Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his 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.

You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!