Psalm 48

Good News Translation

Zion, the City of God^[a]

48 The Lord is great and is to be highly praised
    in the city of our God, on his sacred hill.^[b]
²^(A)Zion, the mountain of God, is high and beautiful;
    the city of the great king brings joy to all the world.
³God has shown that there is safety with him
    inside the fortresses of the city.

⁴The kings gathered together
    and came to attack Mount Zion.
⁵But when they saw it, they were amazed;
    they were afraid and ran away.
⁶There they were seized with fear and anguish,
    like a woman about to bear a child,
⁷    like ships tossing in a furious storm.

⁸We have heard what God has done,
and now we have seen it
in the city of our God, the Lord Almighty;
he will keep the city safe forever.

⁹Inside your Temple, O God,
    we think of your constant love.
¹⁰You are praised by people everywhere,
    and your fame extends over all the earth.
You rule with justice;
¹¹    let the people of Zion be glad!
You give right judgments;
    let there be joy in the cities of Judah!

¹²People of God, walk around Zion and count the towers;
¹³    take notice of the walls and examine the fortresses,
so that you may tell the next generation:
¹⁴    “This God is our God forever and ever;
    he will lead us for all time to come.”