Psalms 68
1 To the chief Musician. Of David. A Psalm: a Song. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered, and let them 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, thou wilt drive them away; as wax melteth before the fire, the wicked shall 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 the righteous shall rejoice: they shall exult before God and be glad with joy.
But those who are right with God are happy, and they celebrate in God's presence, full of joy.
4 Sing unto God, sing forth his name; cast up a way for him that rideth in the deserts: his name is 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 maketh the solitary into families; those that were bound he bringeth out into prosperity: but the rebellious dwell in a parched [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 trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God, yon Sinai, 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 pour a plentiful rain upon thine inheritance, and when it was weary thou strengthenedst it.
You sent plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.
10 Thy flock hath dwelt therein: thou hast prepared in thy goodness, for the afflicted, O God!
Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. (Selah)
11 The Lord gives the word: great the host of the publishers.
The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
12 Kings of armies flee; they flee, and she that tarrieth at home divideth 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 sheepfolds, [ye shall be as] wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with green 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 became snow-white as Zalmon.
The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
15 [As] mount Bashan is the mount of God, a many-peaked mountain, [as] mount Bashan.
“Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, Mount Bashan,
16 Why do ye look with envy, ye many-peaked mountains, upon the mount that God hath desired for his abode? yea, Jehovah will dwell [there] 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, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them: it is a Sinai in holiness.
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 in Man, and even [for] the rebellious, for the dwelling [there] of Jah Elohim.
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: day by day doth he load us [with good], the God who is our salvation. (Selah)
May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens. God is our salvation. (Selah)
20 Our God is the God of salvation; and with Jehovah, the Lord, are the goings forth [even] from death.
For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape from death.
21 Verily God will smite the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of him that 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 [them] again from the depth 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 thou mayest dip thy foot in blood: the tongue of thy dogs has its portion from enemies.
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, 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 stringed instruments after, in the midst of maidens playing on tabrets.
The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
26 In the congregations bless ye God, the Lord, — [ye] 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, their ruler; the princes of Judah, their company; the princes of Zebulun, 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 unto thee.
Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
30 Rebuke the beast of the reeds, the assembly of the strong, with the calves of the peoples: [every one] submitteth himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the peoples 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 Great ones shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall quickly stretch out her hands unto God.
Let Egypt come with bronze gifts; let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
32 Ye kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; sing psalms of the Lord, (Selah)
Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. (Selah)
33 Of him that rideth upon the heavens, the heavens which are of old: lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.
Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens, his strong voice sounding like thunder!
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency 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 Terrible art thou, O God, out of thy sanctuaries, — the God of Israel! He it is that giveth strength and might unto the people. Blessed be God!
How awesome is God in his Temple! The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people! Praise God!
