Psalms 68
68
PSALM 68
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
To the chief Musician,
A Psalm or Song of David.
1Let God arise, and scatterèd
let all his en'mies be;
And let all those that do him hate
before his presence flee.
2As smoke is driv'n, so drive thou them;
as fire melts wax away,
Before God's face let wicked men
so perish and decay.
3But let the righteous be glad:
let them before God's sight
Be very joyful; yea, let them
rejoice with all their might.
4To God sing, to his name sing praise;
extol him with your voice,
That rides on heav'n, by his name Jah,
before his face rejoice.
5Because the Lord a father is
unto the fatherless;
God is the widow's judge, within
his place of holiness.
6God doth the solitary set
in fam'lies: and from bands
The chain'd doth free; but rebels do
inhabit parched lands.
7O God, what time thou didst go forth
before thy people's face;
And when through the great wilderness
thy glorious marching was;
8Then at God's presence shook the earth,
then drops from heaven fell;
This Sinai shook before the Lord,
the God of Israel.
9O God, thou to thine heritage
didst send a plenteous rain,
Whereby thou, when it weary was,
didst it refresh again.
10Thy congregation then did make
their habitation there:
Of thine own goodness for the poor,
O God, thou didst prepare.
11The Lord himself did give the word,
the word abroad did spread;
Great was the company of them
the same who published.
12Kings of great armies foiled were,
and forced to flee away;
And women, who remained at home,
did distribute the prey.
13Though ye have lien among the pots,
like doves ye shall appear,
Whose wings with silver, and with gold
whose feathers covered are.
14When there th' Almighty scatter'd kings,
like Salmon's snow 'twas white.
15God's hill is like to Bashan hill,
like Bashan hill for height.
16Why do ye leap, ye mountains high?
this is the hill where God
Desires to dwell; yea, God in it
for aye will make abode.
17God's chariots twenty thousand are,
thousands of angels strong;
In's holy place God is, as in
mount Sinai, them among.
18Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious,
ascended up on high;
And in triumph victorious led
captive captivity:
Thou hast received gifts for men,
for such as did rebel;
Yea, ev'n for them, that God the Lord
in midst of them might dwell.
19Blessed be the Lord, who is to us
of our salvation God;
Who daily with his benefits
us plenteously doth load.
20He of salvation is the God,
who is our God most strong;
And unto God the Lord from death
the issues do belong.
21But surely God shall wound the head
of those that are his foes;
The hairy scalp of him that still
on in his trespass goes.
22God said, My people I will bring
again from Bashan hill;
Yea, from the sea's devouring depths
them bring again I will;
23That in the blood of enemies
thy foot imbrued may be,
And of thy dogs dipped in the same
the tongues thou mayest see.
24Thy goings they have seen, O God;
the steps of majesty
Of my God, and my mighty King,
within the sanctuary.
25Before went singers, players next
on instruments took way;
And them among the damsels were
that did on timbrels play.
26Within the congregations
bless God with one accord:
From Isr'el's fountain do ye bless
and praise the mighty Lord.
27With their prince, little Benjamin,
princes and council there
Of Judah were, there Zabulon's
and Napht'li's princes were.
28Thy God commands thy strength; make strong
what thou wrought'st for us, Lord.
29For thy house at Jerusalem
kings shall thee gifts afford.
30The spearmen's host, the multitude
of bulls, which fiercely look,
Those calves which people have forth sent,
O Lord our God, rebuke,
Till ev'ry one submit himself,
and silver pieces bring:
The people that delight in war
disperse, O God and King.
31Those that be princes great shall then
come out of Egypt lands;
And Ethiopia to God
shall soon stretch out her hands.
32O all ye kingdoms of the earth,
sing praises to this King;
For he is Lord that ruleth all,
unto him praises sing.
33To him that rides on heav'ns of heav'ns,
which he of old did found;
Lo, he sends out his voice, a voice
in might that doth abound.
34Strength unto God do ye ascribe;
for his excellency
Is over Israel, his strength
is in the clouds most high.
35Thou'rt from thy temple dreadful, Lord;
Isr'el's own God is he,
Who gives his people strength and pow'r:
O let God blessed be.
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 68
68
To the director: A praise song of David.
1God, get up and scatter your enemies!
May all your enemies run from you.
2May your enemies be scattered
like smoke blown away by the wind.
May your enemies be destroyed
like wax melting in a fire.
3But let good people be happy.
Let them gather before God and enjoy themselves together.
4Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!
Prepare the way for the one who rides on the clouds.
His name is YAH.#68:4 YAH This is a Hebrew name for God. It is like the Hebrew name usually translated “Lord.” Also in verse 18.
Worship before him with joy.
5God, who lives in his holy palace, is a father to orphans,
and he takes care of widows.
6God provides homes for those who are lonely.
He frees people from prison and makes them happy.
But those who turn against him will live in the desert.
7God, you led your people out of Egypt.
You marched across the desert. Selah
8The ground shook and rain poured from the sky
when God, the God of Israel, came to Sinai.
9God, you sent the rain
to make a tired, old land strong again.
10Your people#68:10 people Or “animals” or “living things.” came back to live there,
and you provided good things for the poor.
11My Lord gave the command,
and many people went to tell the good news:
12“The armies of powerful kings ran away!
At home, the women divide the things brought from the battle.
13Those who stayed home will share in the wealth—
metal doves with wings covered in silver and feathers sparkling with gold.”
14God All-Powerful scattered the kings
like snow falling on Mount Zalmon.
15Mount Bashan is a great mountain
with many high peaks.
16But, Bashan, why are you jealous of Mount Zion?
That is where God has chosen to live.
The Lord will live there forever.
17With his millions of chariots,
the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place.
18You went up to your high place,
leading a parade of captives.
You received gifts from people,#68:18 received gifts from people Or “took people as gifts.” Or “gave gifts to people,” as in the ancient Syriac and Aramaic versions and in Eph. 4:8.
even those who turned against you.
The Lord God went up there to live.
19Praise the Lord!
Every day he helps us with the loads we must carry.
He is the God who saves us. Selah
20He is our God, the God who saves us.
My Lord GOD saves us from death.
21God will smash the heads of his enemies.
He will punish those who fight against him.#68:21 Literally, “God will smash the heads of his enemies. He will smash the hairy skull walking in guilt.”
22My Lord said, “If they run up to Bashan or down to the depths of the sea,
I will bring them back.
23So you will march through pools of their blood,
and there will be plenty left for your dogs.”
24God, everyone can see your victory parade—
the victory march of my God and King into his holy place!#68:24 of my God … holy place Or “led by my holy God and King!”
25Singers come marching in front, followed by the musicians;
they are surrounded by young girls playing tambourines.
26Praise God in the meeting place.#68:26 in the meeting place Or “with the trumpets that announce the assembly!”
Praise the Lord, people of Israel!
27There is the smallest tribe, Benjamin, leading them.
And there comes a large group of leaders from Judah.
Following them are the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28God, show us your power!
Show us the power you used for us in the past.
29Kings will bring their wealth to you,
to your Temple in Jerusalem.
30Punish the people in Egypt.
They are like cattle in the marshes, like bulls among the calves.
You humiliated them.
You scattered them in war.
Now let them come crawling to you,
bringing their pieces of silver.
31Messengers from Egypt will come bearing gifts.
Ethiopia will offer God their tribute.
32Kings on earth, sing to God!
Sing songs of praise to our Lord! Selah
33Sing to him who rides his chariot through the ancient skies.
Listen to his powerful voice!
34Tell everyone how powerful he is!
He rules over Israel.
His power fills the skies.
35God, you are awesome in your Temple!
The God of Israel is the one who gives strength and power to his people.
Praise God!
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