Psalm 6811

For the music director; by David, a psalm, a song.

68:1 God springs into action!1

His enemies scatter;

his adversaries2 run from him.3

68:2 As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away.4

As wax melts before fire,

so the wicked are destroyed before God.

68:3 But the godly5 are happy;

they rejoice before God

and are overcome with joy.6

68:4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!

Exalt the one who rides on the clouds!7

For the Lord is his name!8

Rejoice before him!

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

68:7 O God, when you lead your people into battle,14

when you march through the desert,15

(Selah)

68:8 the earth shakes,

yes, the heavens pour down rain

before God, the God of Sinai,16

before God, the God of Israel.17

68:9 O God, you cause abundant showers to fall18 on your chosen people.19

When they20 are tired, you sustain them,21

68:10 for you live among them.22

You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God.

68:11 The Lord speaks;23

many, many women spread the good news.24

68:12 Kings leading armies run away—they run away!25

The lovely lady26 of the house divides up the loot.

68:13 When27 you lie down among the sheepfolds,28

the wings of the dove are covered with silver

and with glittering gold.29

68:14 When the sovereign judge30 scatters kings,31

let it snow32 on Zalmon!

68:15 The mountain of Bashan33 is a towering mountain;34

the mountain of Bashan is a mountain with many peaks.35

68:16 Why do you look with envy,36 O mountains37 with many peaks,

at the mountain where God has decided to live?38

Indeed39 the Lord will live there40 permanently!

68:17 God has countless chariots;

they number in the thousands.41

The Lord comes from Sinai in holy splendor.42

68:18 You ascend on high,43

you have taken many captives.44

You receive tribute45 from46 men,

including even sinful rebels.

Indeed the Lord God lives there!47

68:19 The Lord deserves praise!48

Day after day49 he carries our burden,

the God who delivers us.

(Selah)

68:20 Our God is a God who delivers;

the Lord, the sovereign Lord, can rescue from death.50

68:21 Indeed God strikes the heads of his enemies,

the hairy foreheads of those who persist in rebellion.51

68:22 The Lord says,

“I will retrieve them52 from Bashan,

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

68:23 so that your feet may stomp53 in their blood,

and your dogs may eat their portion of the enemies’ corpses.”54

68:24 They55 see your processions, O God—

the processions of my God, my king, who marches along in holy splendor.56

68:25 Singers walk in front;

musicians follow playing their stringed instruments,57

in the midst of young women playing tambourines.58

68:26 In your large assemblies praise God,

the Lord, in the assemblies of Israel!59

68:27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler,60

and the princes of Judah in their robes,61

along with the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.

68:28 God has decreed that you will be powerful.62

O God, you who have acted on our behalf, demonstrate your power,

68:29 as you come out of your temple in Jerusalem!63

Kings bring tribute to you.

68:30 Sound your battle cry64 against the wild beast of the reeds,65

and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls!66

They humble themselves67 and offer gold and silver as tribute.68

God69 scatters70 the nations that like to do battle.

68:31 They come with red cloth71 from Egypt,

Ethiopia72 voluntarily offers tribute73 to God.

68:32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God!

Sing praises to the Lord,

(Selah)

68:33 to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times!74

Look! He thunders loudly.75

68:34 Acknowledge God’s power,76

his sovereignty over Israel,

and the power he reveals in the skies!77

68:35 You are awe-inspiring, O God, as you emerge from your holy temple!78

It is the God of Israel79 who gives the people power and strength.

God deserves praise!80