Psalm 48

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah

1-3 God majestic, praise abounds in our God-city! His sacred mountain, breathtaking in its heights—earth's joy. Zion Mountain looms in the North, city of the world-King. God in his citadel peaks impregnable.
4-6 The kings got together, they united and came. They took one look and shook their heads, they scattered and ran away. They doubled up in pain like a woman having a baby.
7-8 You smashed the ships of Tarshish with a storm out of the East. We heard about it, then we saw it with our eyes— In God's city of Angel Armies, in the city our God Set on firm foundations, firm forever.
9-10 We pondered your love-in-action, God, waiting in your temple: Your name, God, evokes a train of Hallelujahs wherever It is spoken, near and far; your arms are heaped with goodness-in-action.
11 Be glad, Zion Mountain; Dance, Judah's daughters! He does what he said he'd do!
12-14 Circle Zion, take her measure, count her fortress peaks, Gaze long at her sloping bulwark, climb her citadel heights— Then you can tell the next generation detail by detail the story of God, Our God forever, who guides us till the end of time.

Psalm 48

1 Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.

3 God hath made himself known in her palaces for a refuge.

4 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.

5 They saw it, then were they amazed; They were dismayed, they hasted away.

6 Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.

7 With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah

9 We have thought on thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of thy temple.

10 As is thy name, O God, So is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of thy judgments.

12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her; Number the towers thereof;

13 Mark ye well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces: That ye may tell it to the generation following.

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.