48:1 The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise
in the city of our God,1 his holy hill.
48:2 It is lofty and pleasing to look at,2
a source of joy to the whole earth.3
Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon;4
it is the city of the great king.
48:3 God is in its fortresses;
he reveals himself as its defender.5
48:4 For6 look, the kings assemble;7
they advance together.
48:5 As soon as they see,8 they are shocked;9
they are terrified, they quickly retreat.10
48:6 Look at them shake uncontrollably,11
like a woman writhing in childbirth.12
48:7 With an east wind
you shatter13 the large ships.14
48:8 We heard about God’s mighty deeds, now we have seen them,15
in the city of the Lord, the invincible Warrior,16
in the city of our God.
God makes it permanently secure.17 (Selah)
48:9 We reflect on your loyal love, O God,
within your temple.
48:10 The praise you receive as far away as the ends of the earth
is worthy of your reputation, O God.18
You execute justice!19
48:11 Mount Zion rejoices;
the towns20 of Judah are happy,21
because of your acts of judgment.22
48:12 Walk around23 Zion! Encircle it!
Count its towers!
48:13 Consider its defenses!24
Walk through25 its fortresses,
so you can tell the next generation about it!26
48:14 For God, our God, is our defender forever!27
Psalm 4930
For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites.