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 leader. Of David. A psalm. A song. God arises, his enemies scatter: they 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 before wind is driven, as wax melts before fire, so before God vanish the wicked.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 The earth shook, the heavens also rained at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

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

9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, by which thou didst confirm thy inheritance, when it was weary.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

set with stones, like snow upon Zalmon.’

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

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

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

You high-peaked mountains, why look you askance at the mountain which God has desired for his home whereon the Lord will live 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 twice ten thousand: the Lord came from Sinai, his holy place.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 you home from Bashan, home from the depths of the sea,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Cush shall soon stretch out her hands to God.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Ascribe strength to the God over Israel, whose strength and majesty live 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 to his people. Blessed be God.

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