Psalms 68

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

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

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

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.

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

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

4 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

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

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

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

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

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

Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

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

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

14 set with stones, like snow upon Zalmon.’

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

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

The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

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

Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, Yhwh will dwell in it for ever.

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

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

18 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.

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell among them.

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

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. (Selah)

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

He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto Yhwh the Lord belong the issues from death.

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

But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

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

The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

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

There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

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

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

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

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

30 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.

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

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

Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

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

Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; (Selah)

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

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.

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

Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

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

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