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 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, thou wilt drive them away; as wax melteth before the fire, the wicked shall 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 the righteous shall rejoice: they shall exult before God and be glad with joy.

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

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 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 maketh the solitary into families; those that were bound he bringeth out into prosperity: but the rebellious dwell in a parched [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 trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God, yon Sinai, 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 pour a plentiful rain upon thine inheritance, and when it was weary thou strengthenedst it.

You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.

10 Thy flock hath dwelt therein: thou hast prepared in thy goodness, for the afflicted, O God!

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

11 The Lord gives the word: great the host of the publishers.

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

12 Kings of armies flee; they flee, and she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.

“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides 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.

while you sleep amongst 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 became snow-white as Zalmon.

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

15 [As] mount Bashan is the mount of God, a many-peaked mountain, [as] mount Bashan.

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

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 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, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them: it is a Sinai in holiness.

The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is amongst them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.

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.

You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts amongst people, yes, amongst the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord: day by day doth he load us [with good], the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. (Selah)

20 Our God is the God of salvation; and with Jehovah, the Lord, are the goings forth [even] from death.

God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs 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 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 [them] again from the depth 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 thou mayest dip thy foot in blood: the tongue of thy dogs has its portion from enemies.

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, 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 stringed instruments after, in the midst of maidens playing on tabrets.

The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, amongst the ladies playing with tambourines,

26 In the congregations bless ye God, the Lord, — [ye] from the fountain of Israel.

“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”

27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler; the princes of Judah, their company; the princes of Zebulun, 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 unto thee.

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

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 Great ones shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall quickly stretch out her hands unto God.

Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.

32 Ye kingdoms of the earth, sing unto God; sing psalms of the Lord, (Selah)

Sing to God, you 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.

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 unto God: his excellency 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 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!

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