Psalm 46:title–49:title

For the choir director; a song by the descendants of Korah; according to alamoth.^a

¹God is our refuge and strength, 

an ever-present help in times of trouble. 

²That is why we are not afraid 

even when the earth quakes 

or the mountains topple into the depths of the sea. 

³Water roars and foams, 

and mountains shake at the surging waves. 

Selah 

⁴There is a river 

whose streams bring joy to the city of God, 

the holy place where the Most High lives. 

⁵God is in that city. 

It cannot fall. 

God will help it at the break of dawn. 

⁶Nations are in turmoil, and kingdoms topple. 

The earth melts at the sound of ⸤God’s⸥ voice. 

⁷The Lord of Armies is with us. 

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. 

Selah 

⁸Come, see the works of the Lord, 

the devastation he has brought to the earth. 

⁹He puts an end to wars all over the earth. 

He breaks an archer’s bow. 

He cuts spears in two. 

He burns chariots. 

¹⁰Let go ⸤of your concerns⸥! 

Then you will know that I am God. 

I rule the nations. 

I rule the earth. 

¹¹The Lord of Armies is with us. 

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. 

Selah 

Psalm 47

For the choir director; a psalm by Korah’s descendants. 

¹Clap your hands, all you people. 

Shout to God with a loud, joyful song. 

²We must fear the Lord, the Most High. 

He is the great king of the whole earth. 

³He brings people under our authority 

and ⸤puts⸥ nations under our feet. 

⁴He chooses our inheritance for us, 

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. 

Selah 

⁵God has gone up with a joyful shout. 

The Lord has gone up with the sound of a ram’s horn. 

⁶Make music to praise God. 

Play music for him! 

Make music to praise our king. 

Play music for him! 

⁷God is the king of the whole earth. 

Make your best music for him! 

⁸God rules the nations. 

He sits upon his holy throne. 

⁹The influential people from the nations gather together 

as the people of the God of Abraham. 

The rulers of the earth belong to God. 

He rules everything. 

Psalm 48

A song; a psalm by Korah’s descendants. 

¹The Lord is great. 

He should be highly praised. 

His holy mountain is in the city of our God. 

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

Mount Zion is on the northern ridge. 

It is the city of the great king. 

³God is in its palaces. 

He has proved that he is a stronghold. 

⁴The kings have gathered. 

They marched together. 

⁵⸤When⸥ they saw ⸤Mount Zion⸥, 

they were astonished. 

They were terrified and ran away in fear. 

⁶Trembling seized them 

like the trembling that a woman experiences during labor. 

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

⁸The 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 

⁹Inside your temple we carefully reflect on your mercy, O God. 

¹⁰Like your name, O God, 

your praise ⸤reaches⸥ to the ends of the earth. 

Your right hand is filled with righteousness. 

¹¹Let Mount Zion be glad 

and the cities of Judah rejoice 

because of your judgments. 

¹²Walk around Zion. 

Go around it. 

Count its towers. 

¹³Examine its embankments. 

Walk through its palaces. 

Then you can tell the next generation, 

¹⁴“This God is our God forever and ever. 

He will lead us beyond death.” 

Psalm 49

For the choir director; a psalm by Korah’s descendants.