Psalm 48:1–14

¹How great is the Lord,

how deserving of praise,

in the city of our God,

which sits on his holy mountain!

²It is high and magnificent;

the whole earth rejoices to see it!

Mount Zion, the holy mountain,

is the city of the great King!

³God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers,

revealing himself as its defender.

⁴The kings of the earth joined forces

and advanced against the city.

⁵But when they saw it, they were stunned;

they were terrified and ran away.

⁶They were gripped with terror

and writhed in pain like a woman in labor.

⁷You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish

shattered by a powerful east wind.

⁸We 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

⁹O God, we meditate on your unfailing love

as we worship in your Temple.

¹⁰As your name deserves, O God,

you will be praised to the ends of the earth.

Your strong right hand is filled with victory.

¹¹Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice.

Let all the towns of Judah be glad

because of your justice.

¹²Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem.

Walk around and count the many towers.

¹³Take note of the fortified walls,

and tour all the citadels,

that you may describe them

to future generations.

¹⁴For that is what God is like.

He is our God forever and ever,

and he will guide us until we die.