1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,

in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

2 Beautiful in its loftiness,

the joy of the whole earth,

like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,

the city of the Great King.

3 God is in her citadels;

he has shown himself to be her fortress.

4 When the kings joined forces,

when they advanced together,

5 they saw her and were astounded;

they fled in terror.

6 Trembling seized them there,

pain like that of a woman in labor.

7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish

shattered by an east wind.

8 As we have heard,

so we have seen

in the city of the Lord Almighty,

in the city of our God:

God makes her secure

forever.

1 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, On the sides of the north, the city of the great King. 3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge. 4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. 5 They saw it, and so they marvelled; They were troubled, and hasted away. 6 Fear took hold upon them there, And pain, as of a woman in travail. 7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

1 How great is the Lord,

how deserving of praise,

in the city of our God,

which sits on his holy mountain!

2 It is high and magnificent;

the whole earth rejoices to see it!

Mount Zion, the holy mountain,

is the city of the great King!

3 God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers,

revealing himself as its defender.

4 The kings of the earth joined forces

and advanced against the city.

5 But when they saw it, they were stunned;

they were terrified and ran away.

6 They were gripped with terror

and writhed in pain like a woman in labor.

7 You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish

shattered by a powerful east wind.

8 We had heard of the city’s glory,

but now we have seen it ourselves—

the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

It is the city of our God;

he will make it safe forever.

Interlude

1 Great is the Lord, 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 is in her palaces;

He is known as her refuge.

4 For behold, the kings assembled,

They passed by together.

5 They saw it, and so they marveled;

They were troubled, they hastened away.

6 Fear took hold of them there,

And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,

7 As when You break the ships of Tarshish

With an east wind.

8 As we have heard,

So we have seen

In the city of the Lord of hosts,

In the city of our God:

God will establish it forever.

Selah

1 The Lord is great; he should be praised

in the city of our God, on his holy mountain.

2 It is high and beautiful

and brings joy to the whole world.

Mount Zion is like the high mountains of the north;

it is the city of the Great King.

3 God is within its palaces;

he is known as its defender.

4 Kings joined together

and came to attack the city.

5 But when they saw it, they were amazed.

They ran away in fear.

6 Fear took hold of them;

they hurt like a woman having a baby.

7 You destroyed the large trading ships

with an east wind.

8 First we heard

and now we have seen

that God will always keep his city safe.

It is the city of the Lord All-Powerful,

the city of our God.

Selah

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

1 Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the hill of his holiness. 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 is known in her palaces as a high fortress. 4 For behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together; 5 They saw, —so they marvelled; they were troubled, they fled in consternation: 6 Trembling took hold upon them there; anguish, as of a woman in travail. 7 With an east wind thou hast broken 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 doth establish it for ever. Selah.

1 The Lord is great. 

He should be highly praised. 

His holy mountain is in the city of our God. 

2 Its beautiful peak is the joy of the whole earth. 

Mount Zion is on the northern ridge. 

It is the city of the great king. 

3 God is in its palaces. 

He has proved that he is a stronghold. 

4 The kings have gathered. 

They marched together. 

5 ⸤When⸥ they saw ⸤Mount Zion⸥, 

they were astonished. 

They were terrified and ran away in fear. 

6 Trembling seized them 

like the trembling that a woman experiences during labor. 

7 With the east wind you smash the ships of Tarshish. 

8 The things we had only heard about, we have now seen 

in the city of the Lord of Armies, 

in the city of our God. 

God makes Zion stand firm forever. 

Selah 

1 The Lord is great and highly praised

in the city of our God.

His holy mountain, 2 rising splendidly,

is the joy of the whole earth.

Mount Zion on the slopes of the north

is the city of the great King.

3 God is known as a stronghold

in its citadels.

4 Look! The kings assembled;

they advanced together.

5 They looked and froze with fear;

they fled in terror.

6 Trembling seized them there,

agony like that of a woman in labor,

7 as You wrecked the ships of Tarshish

with the east wind.

8 Just as we heard, so we have seen

in the city of Yahweh of Hosts,

in the city of our God;

God will establish it forever. Selah

1 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised

in the city of our God.

His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation,

is the joy of all the earth,

Mount Zion, in the far north,

the city of the great King.

3 Within its citadels God

has shown himself a sure defense.

4 Then the kings assembled,

they came on together.

5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;

they were in panic, they took to flight;

6 trembling took hold of them there,

pains as of a woman in labor,

7 as when an east wind shatters

the ships of Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen

in the city of the Lord of hosts,

in the city of our God,

which God establishes forever. Selah

1 Yahweh is great and very worthy of praise

in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,

is Mount Zion, in the far north,

the city of the great king.

3 God is in her citadels;

he is known as a high stronghold.

4 For see, the kings assembled;

they advanced together.

5 They themselves saw it, so they were astonished.

They were terrified; they ran off.

6 Trembling seized them there—

pain as of a woman in labor.

7 With an east wind

you shatter the ships of Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so we have seen

in the city of Yahweh of hosts, in the city of our God.

God will establish her forever. Selah

1 The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise.

Praise him in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

2 Mount Zion is high and beautiful.

It brings joy to everyone on earth.

Mount Zion is like the highest parts of Mount Zaphon.

It is the city of the Great King.

3 God is there to keep it safe.

He has shown himself to be like a fort to the city.

4 Many kings joined forces.

They entered Israel together.

5 But when they saw Mount Zion, they were amazed.

They ran away in terror.

6 Trembling took hold of them.

They felt pain like a woman giving birth to a baby.

7 Lord, you destroyed them like ships of Tarshish

that were torn apart by an east wind.

8 What we heard we have also seen.

We have seen it

in the city of the Lord who rules over all.

We have seen it in the city of our God.

We have heard and seen that God makes her secure forever. Selah

1 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

In the city of our God, His holy mountain.

2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,

Is Mount Zion in the far north,

The city of the great King.

3 God, in her palaces,

Has made Himself known as a stronghold.

4 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves,

They passed by together.

5 They saw it, then they were amazed;

They were terrified, they fled in alarm.

6 Panic seized them there,

Anguish, as of a woman in childbirth.

7 With the east wind

You break the ships of Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen

In the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God;

God will establish her forever.

Selah.