PSALM 68

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered;

let those who hate him flee before him!

2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;

as wax melts before fire,

let the wicked perish before God!

3 But let the righteous be joyful;

let them exult before God;

let them be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;

lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds;d

his name is the Lord, exult before him!

5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows

is God in his holy habitation.

6 God gives the desolate a home to dwell in;

he leads out the prisoners to prosperity;

but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people,

when thou didst march through the wilderness, [Selah]

8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,

at the presence of God;

yon Sinai quaked at the presence of God,

the God of Israel.

9 Rain in abundance, O God, thou didst shed abroad;

thou didst restore thy heritage as it languished;

10 thy flock found a dwelling in it;

in thy goodness, O God, thou didst provide for the needy.

11 The Lord gives the command;

great is the host of those who bore the tidings:

12 “The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!”

The women at home divide the spoil,

13 though they stay among the sheepfolds—

the wings of a dove covered with silver,

its pinions with green gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered kings there,

snow fell on Zalmon.

15 O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan;

O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!

16 Why look you with envy, O many-peaked mountain,

at the mount which God desired for his abode,

yea, where the Lord will dwell for ever?

17 With mighty chariotry, twice ten thousand,

thousands upon thousands,

the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place.*

18 Thou didst ascend the high mount,

leading captives in thy train,

and receiving gifts among men,

even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord,

who daily bears us up;

God is our salvation. [Selah]

20 Our God is a God of salvation;

and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.

21 But God will shatter the heads of his enemies,

the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.

22 The Lord said,

“I will bring them back from Bashan,

I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

23 that you may bathef your feet in blood,

that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

24 Thy solemn processions are seen,g O God,

the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—

25 the singers in front, the minstrels last,

between them maidens playing timbrels:

26 “Bless God in the great congregation,

the Lord, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”

27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,

the princes of Judah in their throng,

the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 Summon thy might, O God;

show thy strength, O God, thou who hast wrought for us.

29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem

kings bear gifts to thee.

30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,

the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.

Trampleh under foot those who lust after tribute;

scatter the peoples who delight in war.*

31 Let bronze be brought from Egypt;

let Ethiopia hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;

sing praises to the Lord, [Selah]

33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;

lo, he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.

34 Ascribe power to God,

whose majesty is over Israel,

and his power is in the skies.

35 Terrible is God in hisj sanctuary,

the God of Israel,

he gives power and strength to his people.

Blessed be God!