Psalm 48

Zion, the City of God^d

48 The Lord is great and is to be highly praised

in the city of our God, on his sacred hill.^e

^2*Zion, the mountain of God, is high and beautiful;

the city of the great king brings joy to all the world.

³God has shown that there is safety with him

inside the fortresses of the city.

⁴The kings gathered together

and came to attack Mount Zion.

⁵But when they saw it,

they were amazed; they were afraid and ran away.

⁶There they were seized with fear and anguish,

like a woman about to bear a child,

⁷like ships tossing in a furious storm.

⁸We have heard what God has done,

and now we have seen it

in the city of our God, the Lord Almighty;

he will keep the city safe for ever.

⁹Inside your Temple, O God,

we think of your constant love.

¹⁰You are praised by people everywhere,

and your fame extends over all the earth.

You rule with justice;

¹¹let the people of Zion be glad!

You give right judgements;

let there be joy in the cities of Judah!

¹²People of God, walk round Zion and count the towers;

¹³take notice of the walls and examine the fortresses,

so that you may tell the next generation:

¹⁴“This God is our God for ever and ever;

he will lead us for all time to come.”