Psalms 48

1 A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah. Great [is] Jehovah, and praised greatly, In the city of our God — His holy hill.

For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. The Lord is supreme! He deserves praise in the city of our God on his holy mountain.

2 Beautiful [for] elevation, A joy of all the land, [is] Mount Zion, The sides of the north, the city of a great king.

Mount Zion is high and beautiful, bringing happiness to all the earth; on the northern side is the city of the great King.

3 God in her high places is known for a tower.

God himself is in the city's fortresses; he is recognized as its defender.

4 For, lo, the kings met, they passed by together,

Look at what happened when foreign kings joined forces and came to attack the city.

5 They have seen — so they have marvelled, They have been troubled, they were hastened away.

As soon as they saw it they were astonished and ran away terrified.

6 Trembling hath seized them there, Pain, as of a travailing woman.

They shook all over, and were in agonizing pain like a woman giving birth,

7 By an east wind Thou shiverest ships of Tarshish.

just as the strong east wind wrecks the ships from Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so we have seen, In the city of Jehovah of hosts, In the city of our God, God doth establish her — to the age. (Selah)

Just as we had heard, but now we have seen the city of the Lord Almighty. This is the city of our God; he makes it secure forever. (Selah)

9 We have thought, O God, of Thy kindness, In the midst of Thy temple,

God, we recall your trustworthy love as we worship in the Temple.

10 As [is] Thy name, O God, so [is] Thy praise, Over the ends of the earth, Righteousness hath filled Thy right hand.

As is fitting for your reputation, God, praises to you stretch all around the world. What you do is always right!

11 Rejoice doth Mount Zion, The daughters of Judah are joyful, For the sake of Thy judgments.

Let the people of Mount Zion be glad; let the people of Judah celebrate because your judgments are always fair!

12 Compass Zion, and go round her, count her towers,

Go and take a look at Zion. Count the towers as you walk around.

13 Set your heart to her bulwark, Consider her high places, So that ye recount to a later generation,

Inspect the fortifications. Examine the citadels, so you can describe everything to the next generation, telling them:

14 That this God [is] our God — To the age and for ever, He — he doth lead us over death!

“This is who our God is. He is our God forever and ever. He himself will lead us until the very end.”