Psalm 68:5–6

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

9	sn God is depicted here as a just ruler. In the ancient Near Eastern world a king was responsible for promoting justice, including caring for the weak and vulnerable, epitomized by the fatherless and widows.
10	tn Heb “God [is] in his holy dwelling place.” He occupies his throne and carries out his royal responsibilities.
11	tn Heb “God causes the solitary ones to dwell in a house.” The participle suggests this is what God typically does.
12	tn Heb “he brings out prisoners into prosperity.” Another option is to translate, “he brings out prisoners with singing” (cf. NIV). The participle suggests this is what God typically does.
13	tn Or “in a parched [land].” sn God delivers the downtrodden and oppressed, but sinful rebels who oppose his reign are treated appropriately.