Psalm 68

God's Majestic Power

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm. A song.

1 God arises. His enemies scatter,
and those who hate Him flee from His presence.
2 As smoke is blown away,
so You blow [them] away.
As wax melts before the fire,
so the wicked are destroyed before God.

3 But the righteous are glad;
they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy.

4 Sing to God! Sing praises to His name.
Exalt Him who rides on the clouds-
His name is Yahweh-and rejoice before Him.
5 God in His holy dwelling is
a father of the fatherless
and a champion of widows.

6 God provides homes for those who are deserted.
He leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a scorched land.

7 God, when You went out before Your people,
when You marched through the desert, Selah
8 the earth trembled and the skies poured down [rain]
before God, the God of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 You, God, showered abundant rain;
You revived Your inheritance when it languished.

10 Your people settled in it;
God, You provided for the poor by Your goodness.

11 The Lord gave the command;
a great company of women brought the good news:
12 "The kings of the armies flee-they flee!"
She who stays at home divides the spoil.
13 While you lie among the sheepfolds,
the wings of a dove are covered with silver,
and its feathers with glistening gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in the land,
it snowed on Zalmon.

15 Mount Bashan is God's towering mountain;
Mount Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.
16 Why gaze with envy, you mountain peaks,
at the mountain God desired for His dwelling?
The Lord will live [there] forever!
17 God's chariots are tens of thousands,
thousands and thousands;
the Lord is among them in the sanctuary
as He was at Sinai.

18 You ascended to the heights, taking away captives;
You received gifts from people,
even from the rebellious,
so that the Lord God might live [there].

19 May the Lord be praised!
Day after day He bears our burdens;
God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
and escape from death belongs to the Lord God.
21 Surely God crushes the heads of His enemies,
the hairy head of one who goes on in his guilty acts.
22 The Lord said, "I will bring [them] back from Bashan;
I will bring [them] back from the depths of the sea
23 so that your foot may wade in blood
and your dogs' tongues may have their share
from the enemies."
24 People have seen Your procession, God,
the procession of my God,
my King, in the sanctuary.
25 Singers lead the way,
with musicians following;
among them are young women
playing tambourines.
26 Praise God in the assemblies;
[praise] the Lord from the fountain of Israel.

27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them,
the rulers of Judah in their assembly,
the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali.

28 Your God has decreed your strength.
Show Your strength, God,
You who have acted on our behalf.
29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem,
kings will bring tribute to You.
30 Rebuke the beast in the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those with bars of silver.
Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war.

31 Ambassadors will come from Egypt;
Cush will stretch out its hands to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;
sing praise to the Lord, Selah
33 to Him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens.
Look, He thunders with His powerful voice!
34 Ascribe power to God.
His majesty is over Israel,
His power among the clouds.

35 God, You are awe-inspiring in Your sanctuaries.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people.
May God be praised!

Psalms 68

God will win the battle

1 Do something, God!
Scatter your hateful enemies.
Make them turn and run.

2 Scatter them like smoke!
When you come near,
make them melt
like wax in a fire.

3 But let your people be happy
and celebrate because of you.

4 Our God, you are the one
who rides on the clouds,
and we praise you.
Your name is the Lord,
and we celebrate
as we worship you.

5 Our God, from your sacred home
you take care of orphans
and protect widows.

6 You find families
for those who are lonely.
You set prisoners free
and let them prosper,t
but all who rebel will live
in a scorching desert.

7 You set your people free,
and you led them
through the desert.

8 God of Israel,t
the earth trembled,
and rain poured down.
You alone are the God
who rules from Mount Sinai.

9 When your land was thirsty,
you sent showers
to refresh it.

10 Your people settled there,
and you were generous
to everyone in need.

11 You gave the command,
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.

13 And for those who stayed back
to guard the sheep,
there are metal doves
with silver-coated wings
and shiny gold feathers.”

14 God All-Powerful, you scattered
the kings like snow falling
on Mount Zalmon.t

15 Our Lord and our God,
Bashan is a mighty mountain
covered with peaks.

16 Why is it jealous of Zion,
the mountain you chose
as your home for ever?

17 When you, Lord God, appeared
to your peoplet at Sinai,
you came with thousands
of mighty chariots.

18 When you climbedt
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.

19 We praise you, Lord God!
You treat us with kindness
day after day,
and you rescue us.

20 You always protect us
and save us from death.

21 Our Lord and our God,
your terrible enemies
are ready for war,t
but you will crush
their skulls.

22 You promised to bring them
from Bashan
and from the deepest sea.

23 Then we could stamp
on their blood,
and our dogs could chew
on their bones.

24 We have seen crowds marching
to your place of worship,
our God and King.

25 The singers come first,
and then the musicians,
surrounded by young women
playing tambourines.

26 They come shouting,
“People of Israel,
praise the Lord God!”

27 The small tribe of Benjamin
leads the way,
followed by the leaders
from Judah.
Then come the leaders
from Zebulun and Naphtali.

28 Our God, show your strength!
Show us once again.

29 Then kings will bring gifts
to your temple
in Jerusalem.t

30 Punish that animal
that lives in the swamp!t
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.t

31 Force the Egyptians to bring
gifts of bronze;
make the Ethiopianst hurry
to offer presents.t

32 Now sing praises to God!
Every kingdom on earth,
sing to the Lord!

33 Praise the one who rides
across the ancient skies;
listen as he speaks
with a mighty voice.

34 Tell about God's power!
He is honoured in Israel,
and he rules the skies.

35 The God of Israel is fearsome
in his temple,
and he makes us strong.
Let's praise our God!