Psalm 68
68
God Shall Scatter His Enemies
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
1 #
Num. 10:35; Isa. 33:3 God shall arise, his enemies shall be #[Ps. 89:10; 92:9]scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2As #See Ps. 37:20 smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
#
Ps. 22:14; 97:5; Mic. 1:4 as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3But #See Ps. 32:11the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!
4Sing to God, #Ps. 66:4 sing praises to his name;
# [Isa. 62:10] lift up a song to him who #ver. 33; [Ps. 18:10] rides through #Isa. 40:3 the deserts;
his name is #Ps. 89:8the Lord;
exult before him!
5 # See Ps. 10:14 Father of the fatherless and #Deut. 10:18protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6God #Ps. 113:9; 1 Sam. 2:5 settles the solitary in a home;
he #Ps. 69:33; 107:10, 14; 146:7; Acts 12:7; 16:26 leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but #ver. 18 the rebellious dwell in #[Ps. 107:33, 40]a parched land.
7O God, when you #Ex. 13:21; Judg. 4:14; Hab. 3:13; Zech. 14:3 went out before your people,
#
Judg. 5:4 when you marched through #Ps. 78:40the wilderness, Selah
8 #
Ex. 19:18; Judg. 5:4 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God,#68:8 Or before God, even Sinai before God the God of Israel.
9 # See Ps. 65:9, 10 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10your flock#68:10 Or your congregation found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you #Ps. 65:9; 78:20provided for the needy.
11The Lord gives #[Ps. 33:9] the word;
# [Ex. 15:20; 1 Sam. 18:6] the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 #
Ps. 110:5; [Num. 31:8; Josh. 10:16; Judg. 5:19]; See Josh. 12:7-24 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home #Judg. 5:30divide the spoil—
13though you men lie among #[Gen. 49:14; Judg. 5:16]the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
14When the Almighty scatters kings there,
let snow fall on #Judg. 9:48Zalmon.
15O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked#68:15 Or hunch-backed; also verse 16 mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God #Ps. 132:13, 14; [Ps. 78:54; 87:1, 2; Deut. 12:5]desired for his abode,
yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?
17 #
2 Kgs. 6:17; Hab. 3:8 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 #
Ps. 7:7; 47:5; Cited Eph. 4:8; [Acts 1:9] You ascended on high,
#
Judg. 5:12 leading a host of captives in your train
and #[Acts 2:4, 33] receiving gifts among men,
even among #[Rom. 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:13] the rebellious, #Ps. 78:60; Ex. 29:45; Rev. 21:3; [John 14:23]that the Lord God may dwell there.
19Blessed be the Lord,
who daily #[Isa. 46:4]bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
20Our God is a God of salvation,
#
Deut. 32:39; Eccles. 7:18; Rev. 1:18 and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 #
Ps. 110:6; Hab. 3:13 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22The Lord said,
“I will bring them back #Num. 21:33 from Bashan,
# See Amos 9:2-4 I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23that you may #Ps. 58:10 strike your feet in their blood,
that #[1 Kgs. 21:19; 22:38]the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24Your procession is#68:24 Or has been seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 #
Ps. 47:5; 1 Chr. 13:8; 15:16 the singers in front, #See Ps. 33:3 the musicians last,
between them #Ex. 15:20; Judg. 11:34virgins playing tambourines:
26 #
Ps. 22:25; 26:12 “Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord, O you#68:26 The Hebrew for you is plural here who are of #Deut. 33:28; Isa. 48:1; [Isa. 51:1]Israel’s fountain!”
27There is #[1 Sam. 9:21] Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of #[Judg. 5:18]Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 # See Ps. 42:8 Summon your power, O God,#68:28 By revocalization (compare Septuagint); Hebrew Your God has summoned your power
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings shall #Ps. 45:12; 76:11; 1 Kgs. 10:10, 25; 2 Chr. 32:23; Isa. 18:7bear gifts to you.
30Rebuke #Job 40:21; Isa. 19:6; Ezek. 29:3, 4; [Ezek. 32:2] the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of #Ps. 22:12 bulls with the calves of the peoples.
# [2 Sam. 8:2, 6] Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.#68:30 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
31Nobles shall come from #Isa. 19:19, 21 Egypt;
#
Ps. 87:4; Isa. 45:14; Zeph. 3:10 Cush shall hasten to #Ps. 44:20stretch out her hands to God.
32 #
Ps. 102:22
O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33to him #Ps. 18:10; 104:3; Deut. 33:26 who rides in #Deut. 10:14; 1 Kgs. 8:27 the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he #Ps. 29:4; See Ps. 46:6sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 #
Ps. 29:1 Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose #Ps. 150:1 power is in #Ps. 36:5; 57:10; 108:4the skies.
35 # [Ps. 65:5]; See Ps. 47:2 Awesome is God from his#68:35 Septuagint; Hebrew your #[Ps. 110:2] sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives #Isa. 40:29; See Ps. 29:11power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!
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Psalms 68
68
(A psalm and a song by David for the music leader.)
God Will Win the Battle
1Do something, God!
Scatter your hateful enemies.
Make them turn and run.
2Scatter them like smoke!
When you come near,
make them melt
like wax in a fire.
3But let your people be happy
and celebrate because of you.
4Our God, you are the one
who rides on the clouds,#68.4 on the clouds: Or “across the desert.”
and we praise you.
Your name is the Lord,
and we celebrate
as we worship you.
5Our God, from your sacred home
you take care of orphans
and protect widows.
6You find families
for those who are lonely.
You set prisoners free
and let them prosper,#68.6 and let them prosper: Or “and give them a song.”
but all who rebel will live
in a scorching desert.
7You set your people free,
and you led them
through the desert.
8 #
Ex 19.18. God of Israel,
the earth trembled,
and rain poured down.
You alone are the God
who rules from Mount Sinai.
9When your land was thirsty,
you sent showers
to refresh it.
10Your people settled there,
and you were generous
to everyone in need.
11You gave the command, Lord,
and a chorus of women told
what had happened:
12“Kings and their armies
retreated and ran,
and everything they left
is now being divided.
13And for those who stayed back
to guard the sheep,
there are metal doves
with silver-coated wings
and shiny gold feathers.”
14God All-Powerful, you scattered
the kings like snow falling
on Mount Zalmon.#68.14 Mount Zalmon: The location of this mountain is not known.
15Our Lord and our God,
Bashan is a mighty mountain
covered with peaks.
16Why is it jealous of Zion,
the mountain you chose
as your home forever?
17When you, Lord God, appeared
to your people#68.17 to your people: Or “in all your holiness” or “in your holy place.” at Sinai,
you came with thousands
of mighty chariots.
18 #
Eph 4.8. When you climbed
the high mountain,
you took prisoners with you
and were given gifts.
Your enemies didn't want you
to live there,
but they gave you gifts.
19We praise you, Lord God!
You treat us with kindness
day after day,
and you rescue us.
20You always protect us
and save us from death.
21Our Lord and our God,
your terrible enemies
are ready for war,#68.21 are ready for war: The Hebrew text has “have long hair,” which probably refers to the ancient custom of wearing long hair on special occasions, such as a “holy war.”
but you will crush
their skulls.
22You promised to bring them
from Bashan
and from the deepest sea.
23Then we could wash our feet
in their blood,
and our dogs could chew
on their bones.
24We have seen crowds marching
to your place of worship,
our God and King.
25Singers come first,
and then the musicians,
surrounded by young women
playing tambourines.
26They come shouting,
“People of Israel,
praise the Lord God!”
27The small tribe of Benjamin
leads the way,
followed by the leaders
from Judah.
Then come the leaders
from Zebulun and Naphtali.
28Our God, show your strength!
Show us once again.
29Then kings will bring gifts
to your temple
in Jerusalem.#68.28,29 Our God … Jerusalem: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 28,29.
30Punish that animal
that lives in the swamp!#68.30 animal … swamp: Probably Egypt.
Punish that nation
whose leaders and people
are like wild bulls.
Make them come crawling
with gifts of silver.
Scatter those nations
that enjoy making war.#68.30 war: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 30.
31Force the Egyptians to bring
gifts of bronze;
make the Ethiopians#68.31 the Ethiopians: The Hebrew text has “the people of Cush,” which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan. hurry
to offer presents.#68.31 presents: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 31.
32Now sing praises to God!
Every kingdom on earth,
sing to the Lord!
33Praise the one who rides
across the ancient skies;
listen as he speaks
with a mighty voice.
34Tell about God's power!
He is honored in Israel,
and he rules the skies.
35The God of Israel is fearsome
in his temple,
and he makes us strong.
Let's praise our God!
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