Psalm 68

Psalm 68

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.

^*May God arise,^a may his enemies be scattered;^b

may his foes flee^c before him.

May you blow them away like smoke—^d

as wax melts^e before the fire,

may the wicked perish^f before God.

But may the righteous be glad

and rejoice^g before God;

may they be happy and joyful.

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,^h

extol him who rides on the cloudsⁱ;

rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.^j

A father to the fatherless,^k a defender of widows,^l

is God in his holy dwelling.^m

God sets the lonelyⁿ in families,^o

he leads out the prisoners^p with singing;

but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.^q

When you, God, went out^r before your people,

when you marched through the wilderness,^s

the earth shook,^t the heavens poured down rain,^u

before God, the One of Sinai,^v

before God, the God of Israel.^w

You gave abundant showers,^x O God;

you refreshed your weary inheritance.

Your people settled in it,

and from your bounty,^y God, you provided^z for the poor.

The Lord announced the word,

and great was the company^a of those who proclaimed it:

“Kings and armies flee^b in haste;

every household shares in the plunder.^c

Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,^d

the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,

its feathers with shining gold.”

When the Almighty scattered^e the kings in the land,

it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.^f

Mount Bashan,^g majestic mountain,^h

Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,

why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,

at the mountain where God choosesⁱ to reign,

where the Lord himself will dwell forever?^j

The chariots^k of God are tens of thousands

and thousands of thousands;^l

the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.

When you ascended^m on high,ⁿ

you took many captives;^o

you received gifts from people,^p

even from the rebellious^q—

that you, Lord God, might dwell there.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,^r

who daily bears our burdens.^s

Our God is a God who saves;^t

from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.^u

Surely God will crush the heads^v of his enemies,

the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.

The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;

I will bring them from the depths of the sea,^w

that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,^x

while the tongues of your dogs^y have their share.”

Your procession, God, has come into view,

the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.^z

In front are the singers,^a after them the musicians;^b

with them are the young women playing the timbrels.^c

Praise God in the great congregation;^d

praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.^e

There is the little tribe^f of Benjamin,^g leading them,

there the great throng of Judah’s princes,

and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.^h

Summon your power,ⁱ God;

show us your strength,^j our God, as you have done^k before.

Because of your temple at Jerusalem

kings will bring you gifts.^l

Rebuke the beast^m among the reeds,ⁿ

the herd of bulls^o among the calves of the nations.

Humbled, may it bring bars of silver.

Scatter the nations^p who delight in war.^q

Envoys will come from Egypt;^r

Cush^s will submit herself to God.

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,^t

sing praise^u to the Lord,

to him who rides^v the ancient skies above,

who thunders^w with mighty voice.^x

Proclaim the power^y of God,

whose majesty^z is over Israel,

whose power is in the skies.

You, God, are awesome^a in your sanctuary;^b

the God of Israel gives power and strength^c to his people.^d

Praise be to God!^e