68:1 God springs into action!1
His enemies scatter;
his adversaries2 run from him.3
68:2 As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away.4
As wax melts before fire,
so the wicked are destroyed before God.
68:3 But the godly5 are happy;
they rejoice before God
and are overcome with joy.6
68:4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!
Exalt the one who rides on the clouds!7
For the Lord is his name!8
Rejoice before him!
68:5 He is a father to the fatherless
and an advocate for widows.9
God rules from his holy palace.10
68:6 God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes;11
he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity.12
But sinful rebels live in the desert.13
68:7 O God, when you lead your people into battle,14
when you march through the desert,15 (Selah)
68:8 the earth shakes,
yes, the heavens pour down rain
before God, the God of Sinai,16
before God, the God of Israel.17
68:9 O God, you cause abundant showers to fall18 on your chosen people.19
When they20 are tired, you sustain them,21
68:10 for you live among them.22
You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God.
68:11 The sovereign Master speaks;23
many, many women spread the good news.24
68:12 Kings leading armies run away—they run away!25
The lovely lady26 of the house divides up the loot.
68:13 When27 you lie down among the sheepfolds,28
the wings of the dove are covered with silver
and with glittering gold.29
68:14 When the sovereign judge30 scatters kings,31
let it snow32 on Zalmon!
68:15 The mountain of Bashan33 is a towering mountain;34
the mountain of Bashan is a mountain with many peaks.35
68:16 Why do you look with envy,36 O mountains37 with many peaks,
at the mountain where God has decided to live?38
Indeed39 the Lord will live there40 permanently!
68:17 God has countless chariots;
they number in the thousands.41
The sovereign Master comes from Sinai in holy splendor.42
you have taken many captives.44
You receive tribute45 from46 men,
including even sinful rebels.
Indeed the Lord God lives there!47
68:19 The sovereign Master deserves praise!48
Day after day49 he carries our burden,
the God who delivers us. (Selah)
68:20 Our God is a God who delivers;
the Lord, the sovereign Master, can rescue from death.50
68:21 Indeed God strikes the heads of his enemies,
the hairy foreheads of those who persist in rebellion.51
68:22 The sovereign Master says,
“I will retrieve them52 from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
68:23 so that your feet may stomp53 in their blood,
and your dogs may eat their portion of the enemies’ corpses.”54
68:24 They55 see your processions, O God—
the processions of my God, my king, who marches along in holy splendor.56
68:25 Singers walk in front;
musicians follow playing their stringed instruments,57
in the midst of young women playing tambourines.58
68:26 In your large assemblies praise God,
the sovereign Master, in the assemblies of Israel!59
68:27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler,60
and the princes of Judah in their robes,61
along with the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.
68:28 God has decreed that you will be powerful.62
O God, you who have acted on our behalf, demonstrate your power,
68:29 as you come out of your temple in Jerusalem!63
Kings bring tribute to you.
68:30 Sound your battle cry64 against the wild beast of the reeds,65
and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls!66
They humble themselves67 and offer gold and silver as tribute.68
God69 scatters70 the nations that like to do battle.
68:31 They come with red cloth71 from Egypt,
Ethiopia72 voluntarily offers tribute73 to God.
68:32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God!
Sing praises to the sovereign Master, (Selah)
68:33 to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times!74
Look! He thunders loudly.75
68:34 Acknowledge God’s power,76
his sovereignty over Israel,
and the power he reveals in the skies!77
68:35 You are awe-inspiring, O God, as you emerge from your holy temple!78
It is the God of Israel79 who gives the people power and strength.
God deserves praise!80
Psalm 6981
For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;”82 by David.