Psalm 68

God’s Majestic Power

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm. A song.

1 God arises. His enemies scatter,

and those who hate Him flee from His presence. q

2 As smoke is blown away,

so You blow them away.

As wax melts before the fire,

so the wicked are destroyed before God. r

3 But the righteous are glad;

they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy. s

4 Sing to God! Sing praises to His name.

Exalt Him who rides on the clouds t —

His name is * Yahweh u—and rejoice before Him. v

5 God in His holy dwelling is

a father of the fatherless

and a champion of widows. w

6 God provides homes for those who are deserted.

He leads out the prisoners to prosperity, x

but the rebellious live in a scorched land. y

7 God, when You went out before Your people,

when You marched through the desert, * Selah

8 the earth trembled and the skies poured down rain

before God, the God of Sinai, z

before God, the God of Israel. a

9 You, God, showered abundant rain;

You revived Your inheritance when it languished. b

10 Your people settled in it;

God, You provided for the poor by Your goodness. c

11 The Lord gave the command;

a great company of women brought the good news: d

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

She who stays at home divides the spoil. e

13 While f you lie among the sheepfolds, g

the wings of a dove are covered with silver,

and its feathers with glistening gold. h

14 When the * Almighty scattered kings in the land,

it snowed on Zalmon. i j

15 Mount Bashan is God’s towering mountain;

Mount Bashan is a mountain of many peaks. k

16 Why gaze with envy, you mountain peaks,

at the mountain l God desired for His dwelling?

The Lord will live there forever! m

17 God’s chariots are tens of thousands,

thousands and thousands; n

the Lord is among them in the sanctuary o

as He was at Sinai. p

18 You ascended to the heights, taking away captives;

You received gifts from q people,

even from the rebellious,

so that the Lord God might live there. r s

19 May the Lord be praised!

Day after day He bears our burdens;

God is our salvation. t Selah

20 Our God is a God of salvation,

and escape from death belongs to the Lord God. u

21 Surely God crushes the heads of His enemies,

the hairy head of one who goes on in his * guilty acts. v

22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan;

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

23 so that your foot may wade x in blood

and your dogs’ tongues may have their share

from the enemies.” y

24 People have seen Your procession, God,

the procession of my God,

my King, in the sanctuary. z a

25 Singers b lead the way,

with musicians following;

among them are young women

playing tambourines. c

26 Praise God in the assemblies;

praise the Lord from the fountain of Israel. d

27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them,

the rulers of Judah in their assembly, e

the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali. f

28 Your God has decreed your strength.

Show Your strength, God,

You who have acted on our behalf. g

29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem,

kings will bring tribute to You. h

30 Rebuke the beast i in the reeds,

the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. j

Trample underfoot those with bars of silver. k

Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war. l

31 Ambassadors will come m from Egypt;

* Cush will stretch out its hands n to God. o

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;

sing praise to the Lord, p Selah

33 to Him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens. q

Look, He thunders with His powerful voice! r

34 Ascribe power to God.

His majesty is over Israel,

His power among the clouds. s

35 God, You are awe-inspiring in Your sanctuaries.

The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people.

May God be praised! t