Psalms 68

1 To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. A Song. Let God be seen, and let his haters be put to flight; let those who are against him be turned back before him.

For the leader. Of David. A psalm. A song. God arises, his enemies scatter: they who hate him flee before him.

2 Let them be like smoke before the driving wind; as wax turning soft before the fire, so let them come to an end before the power of God.

As smoke before wind is driven, as wax melts before fire, so before God vanish the wicked.

3 But let the upright be glad; let them have delight before God; let them be full of joy.

But the righteous rejoice in God’s presence, they exult with exceeding joy.

4 Make songs to God, make songs of praise to his name; make a way for him who comes through the waste lands; his name is Jah; be glad before him.

Sing to God, make music to his name, his name is the Lord, praise him who rides on the clouds, and exult in his presence.

5 A father to those who have no father, a judge of the widows, is God in his holy place.

Father of orphans, defender of widows, is God in his holy abode.

6 Those who are without friends, God puts in families; he makes free those who are in chains; but those who are turned away from him are given a dry land.

God brings home the lonely, he leads forth the prisoner to comfort, so that none but the rebel lives cheerless.

7 O God, when you went out before your people, wandering through the waste land; (Selah)

God, when you went in front of your people in your march through the desert, (Selah)

8 The earth was shaking and the heavens were streaming, because God was present; even Sinai itself was moved before God, the God of Israel.

earth shook, the heavens poured rain at the presence of God, Sinai’s God at the presence of God, Israel’s God.

9 You, O God, did freely send the rain, giving strength to the weariness of your heritage.

Rain in abundance, God, you did sprinkle, restoring the languishing land of your heritage.

10 Those whose resting-place was there, even the poor, were comforted by your good things, O God.

A dwelling therein your people found: in your goodness, O God, you did care for the poor.

11 The Lord gives the word; great is the number of the women who make it public.

The Lord spoke the glad tidings of victory, a great army of women proclaim it:

12 Kings of armies quickly go in flight: and the women in the houses make a division of their goods.

‘Kings of armies they flee, they flee, and the housewife divides the spoil:

13 Will you take your rest among the flocks? like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and its feathers with yellow gold.

dove’s wings covered with silver and pinions with shimmer of gold,

14 When the Most High put the kings to flight, it was as white as snow in Salmon.

set with stones, like snow upon Zalmon.’

15 A hill of God is the hill of Bashan; a hill with high tops is the hill of Bashan.

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan, a mountain of peaks is the mountain of Bashan.

16 Why are you looking with envy, you high hills, on the hill desired by God as his resting-place? truly, God will make it his house for ever.

You high-peaked mountains, why look you askance at the mountain which God has desired for his home whereon the Lord will live forever?

17 The war-carriage of God is among Israel's thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai to the holy place.

The chariots of God are twice ten thousand: the Lord came from Sinai, his holy place.

18 You have gone up on high, taking your prisoners with you; you have taken offerings from men; the Lord God has taken his place on the seat of his power.

You did mount the height with trains of your captives, and gifts that you had received from the people. The rebels shall live with the Lord God.

19 Praise be to the Lord, who is our support day by day, even the God of our salvation. (Selah)

Blest be the Lord who sustains us daily, the God who is also our saviour. (Selah)

20 Our God is for us a God of salvation; his are the ways out of death.

Our God is a God who is saviour. The ways of escape from death are known to the Lord God.

21 The heads of the haters of God will be crushed; even the head of him who still goes on in his evil ways.

Yes, God will shatter the head of his foes the rough scalp of those who strut on in their sins.

22 The Lord said, I will make them come back from Bashan, and from the deep parts of the sea;

The Lord said: ‘I will bring you home from Bashan, home from the depths of the sea,

23 So that your foot may be red with blood, and the tongues of your dogs with the same.

that your feet you may bathe in blood, and your dogs lick their share of the foe.’

24 We see your going, O God: even the going of my God, my King, into the holy place.

In the temple appear God’s triumphal processions, processions in praise of my king and my God,

25 The makers of songs go before, the players of music come after, among the young girls playing on brass instruments.

with singers in front, and minstrels behind, and maidens with timbrels between them, singing,

26 Give praise to God in the great meeting; even the Lord, you who come from the fountain of Israel.

‘You of the well-spring of Israel, bless the Lord God in the dance.’

27 There is little Benjamin ruling them, the chiefs of Judah and their army, the rulers of Zebulun and the rulers of Naphtali.

There, in front, is Benjamin the little, the princes of Judah beside them, the princes of Zebulon, princes of Naphtali.

28 O God, send out your strength; the strength, O God, with which you have done great things for us,

God, show your strength, your godlike might, as you did in the past,

29 Out of your Temple in Jerusalem.

from your temple that crowns Jerusalem. Kings shall bring tribute to you.

30 Say sharp words to the beast among the water-plants, the band of strong ones, with the lords of the peoples, put an end to the people whose delight is in war.

Rebuke the beast of the reed, the herd of bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Trample down the lovers of lies. Scatter the nations whose joy is in war.

31 Kings will give you offerings, they will come out of Egypt; from Pathros will come offerings of silver; Ethiopia will be stretching out her hands to God.

May they come from Egypt with gifts of oil, Ethiopia haste with full hands to God.

32 Make songs to God, you kingdoms of the earth; O make songs of praise to the Lord; (Selah)

Sing to God, O you kingdoms of earth, make melody to the Lord. (Selah)

33 To him who goes or the clouds of heaven, the heaven which was from earliest times; he sends out his voice of power.

Praise him who rides on the ancient heavens. See! He utters his voice, his mighty voice.

34 Make clear that strength is God's: he is lifted up over Israel, and his power is in the clouds.

Ascribe strength to the God over Israel, whose strength and majesty live in the skies.

35 O God, you are to be feared in your holy place: the God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God.

Awe-inspiring is God in his holy place, it is Israel’s God who gives strength and might to his people. Blessed be God.