Psalms 68

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm [or] Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

For the chief musician; A psalm of David, a song. Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered; let those also who hate him flee before him.

2 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.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish in the presence of God.

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

But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; may they rejoice and be happy.

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

Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Praise the one who rides through the plains of the Jordan River valley! Yahweh is 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, a judge of the widows, is God in the holy place where he lives.

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

God puts the lonely into families; he brings out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a parched 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 shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: [even] Sinai itself [was moved] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

The earth trembled; the heavens also dropped rain in God's presence, in the presence of God when he came to Sinai, in the presence of God, the God of Israel.

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

You, God, sent a plentiful rain; you strengthened your inheritance when it was weary.

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

Your people lived in it; You, God, gave from your goodness to the poor.

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

The Lord gave the orders, and those who announced them were a great army.

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

Kings of armies flee, they flee, and the women waiting at home divide the plunder:

13 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.

doves covered with silver with wings of yellow gold. When some of you people stayed among the sheepfolds, why did you do this?

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

The Almighty scattered kings there, it was as when it snowed on Mount Zalmon.

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

A mighty mountain is the hill country of Bashan; a high mountain is the hill country of Bashan.

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

Why do you look in envy, you high hill country, at the mountain which God desires for the place he will live? Indeed, Yahweh will live in it forever.

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

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them in the holy place, as at Sinai.

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

You have ascended on high; you have led away captives; you have received gifts from among men, even from those who fought against you, so that you, Yahweh God, might live there.

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

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

20 [He that is] our God [is] the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord [belong] the issues from death.

Our God is a God who saves; Yahweh the Lord is the one who is able to rescue us from death.

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

But God will strike through the heads of his enemies, through the hairy scalps of those who walk in offenses against him.

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

The Lord said, “I will bring my enemies back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea

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

so that you may crush your enemies, dipping your foot in blood, and so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from your enemies.”

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

They have seen your processions, God, the processions of my God, my King, into the holy place.

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

The singers went first, the minstrels followed after, and in the middle were the unmarried girls playing tambourines.

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

Bless God in the assemblies; praise Yahweh, you who are from the fountain of Israel.

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

There is first Benjamin, the smallest tribe, then the leaders of Judah and their multitudes, the leaders of Zebulun and the leaders of Naphtali.

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

Your God, Israel, has decreed your strength; reveal to us your power, God, as you have revealed it in times past.

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

Reveal your power to us from your temple at Jerusalem, where kings bring gifts to you.

30 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.

Shout in battle against the wild beasts in the reeds, against the peoples, that multitude of bulls and calves. Humiliate them and make them bring you gifts; scatter the peoples who love to wage war.

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

Princes will come out of Egypt; Cush will hurry to reach out with her hands to God.

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

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; (Selah) Sing praises to Yahweh.

33 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.

To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which exist from ancient times; see, he lifts up his voice with power.

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

Ascribe strength to God; his majesty is over Israel, and his strength is in the skies.

35 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.

God, you are fearsome in your holy place; the God of Israel—he gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.