The Resurrection

20 (A)Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that (B)the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, (C)the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and (D)we do not know where they have laid him.” (E)So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw (F)the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and (G)the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, (H)who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet (I)they did not understand the Scripture, (J)that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And (K)she saw (L)two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, (M)“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, (N)“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and (O)saw Jesus standing, (P)but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, (Q)“Woman, why are you weeping? (R)Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be (S)the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,[b] (T)“Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to (U)my brothers and say to them, (V)‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to (W)my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene (X)went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19 (Y)On the evening (Z)of that day, the first day of the week, (AA)the doors being locked where the disciples were (AB)for fear of the Jews,[c] Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, (AC)“Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, (AD)he showed them his hands and his side. Then (AE)the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As (AF)the Father has sent me, (AG)even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he (AH)breathed on them and said to them, (AI)“Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 (AJ)If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Jesus and Thomas

24 Now (AK)Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,[d] was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, (AL)“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. (AM)Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, (AN)“Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, (AO)“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, (AP)“My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? (AQ)Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of This Book

30 (AR)Now Jesus did many other signs (AS)in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 (AT)but these are written so that you may (AU)believe that Jesus is the Christ, (AV)the Son of God, and that by believing (AW)you may have life (AX)in his name.

Footnotes

  1. John 20:7 Greek his
  2. John 20:16 Or Hebrew
  3. John 20:19 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time
  4. John 20:24 Greek Didymus

The Empty Tomb(A)

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene(B) went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.(C) So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved,(D) and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”(E)

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.(F) Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in(G) at the strips of linen(H) lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head.(I) The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first,(J) also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture(K) that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)(L) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb(M) 12 and saw two angels in white,(N) seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”(O)

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”(P) 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,(Q) but she did not realize that it was Jesus.(R)

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?(S) Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic,(T) “Rabboni!”(U) (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers(V) and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father(W) and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene(X) went to the disciples(Y) with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,(Z) Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace(AA) be with you!”(AB) 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.(AC) The disciples were overjoyed(AD) when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!(AE) As the Father has sent me,(AF) I am sending you.”(AG) 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.(AH) 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”(AI)

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas(AJ) (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side,(AK) I will not believe.”(AL)

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace(AM) be with you!”(AN) 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”(AO)

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;(AP) blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(AQ)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

30 Jesus performed many other signs(AR) in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.(AS) 31 But these are written that you may believe[b](AT) that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,(AU) and that by believing you may have life in his name.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. John 20:24 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
  2. John 20:31 Or may continue to believe

Land Still to Be Conquered

13 Now Joshua (A)was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land (B)to possess. (C)This is the land that yet remains: all the (D)regions of the Philistines, and all those of the Geshurites (from the (E)Shihor, which is east of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron, it is counted as Canaanite; (F)there are five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), and those of (G)the Avvim, in the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the boundary of (H)the Amorites, and the land of the (I)Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from (J)Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to (K)Lebo-hamath, all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to (L)Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians. I myself will drive (M)them out from before the people of Israel. Only (N)allot the land to Israel (O)for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. Now therefore (P)divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”

The Inheritance East of the Jordan

With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh[a] the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, (Q)which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the Lord gave them: (R)from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and (S)all the tableland of Medeba as far as Dibon; 10 (T)and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonites; 11 and Gilead, and the (U)region of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and (V)all Bashan to Salecah; 12 (W)all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (he alone was left of (X)the remnant of the Rephaim); (Y)these Moses had struck and driven out. 13 (Z)Yet the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites, but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day.

14 (AA)To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance. The offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to him.

15 And Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the people of Reuben according to their clans. 16 So their territory was from Aroer, (AB)which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland by (AC)Medeba; 17 with Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the tableland; (AD)Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon, 18 (AE)and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, 19 and (AF)Kiriathaim, and (AG)Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar on the hill of the valley, 20 and (AH)Beth-peor, and (AI)the slopes of Pisgah, and (AJ)Beth-jeshimoth, 21 that is, (AK)all the cities of the tableland, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, (AL)whom Moses defeated with (AM)the leaders of Midian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land. 22 (AN)Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel among the rest of their slain. 23 And the border of the people of Reuben was the Jordan as a boundary. This was the inheritance of the people of Reuben, according to their clans with their cities and villages.

24 Moses gave an inheritance also to the tribe of Gad, to the people of Gad, according to their clans. 25 (AO)Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites, to Aroer, which is east of (AP)Rabbah, 26 and from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from (AQ)Mahanaim to the territory of Debir,[b] 27 and in the valley Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, (AR)Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, having the Jordan as a boundary, to the lower end of the Sea of (AS)Chinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan. 28 This is the inheritance of the people of Gad according to their clans, with their cities and villages.

29 And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was allotted to the half-tribe of the people of Manasseh according to their clans. 30 Their region extended from (AT)Mahanaim, through all Bashan, the whole kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all (AU)the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities, 31 and half Gilead, and (AV)Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. These were allotted to the people of (AW)Machir the son of Manasseh for the half of the people of Machir according to their clans.

32 These are the inheritances that Moses distributed (AX)in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. 33 (AY)But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, (AZ)just as he said to them.

The Inheritance West of the Jordan

14 These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which (BA)Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit. Their inheritance was (BB)by lot, just as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes. (BC)For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, (BD)but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. For (BE)the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their substance. The people of Israel did (BF)as the Lord commanded Moses; they allotted the land.

Caleb's Request and Inheritance

Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the (BG)Kenizzite said to him, “You know (BH)what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord (BI)sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. But (BJ)my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, (BK)‘Surely the land (BL)on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, (BM)just as he said, these (BN)forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day (BO)eighty-five years old. 11 (BP)I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and (BQ)for going and coming. 12 So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the (BR)Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.”

13 Then Joshua (BS)blessed him, and he gave (BT)Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. 14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, (BU)because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 (BV)Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba.[c] (Arba[d] was the greatest man among the Anakim.) (BW)And the land had rest from war.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 13:8 Hebrew With it
  2. Joshua 13:26 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew Lidebir
  3. Joshua 14:15 Kiriath-arba means the city of Arba
  4. Joshua 14:15 Hebrew He

Land Still to Be Taken

13 When Joshua had grown old,(A) the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

“This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines(B) and Geshurites,(C) from the Shihor River(D) on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron(E) on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers(F) in Gaza, Ashdod,(G) Ashkelon,(H) Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites(I) on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek(J) and the border of the Amorites;(K) the area of Byblos;(L) and all Lebanon(M) to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon(N) to Lebo Hamath.(O)

“As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim,(P) that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out(Q) before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you,(R) and divide it as an inheritance(S) among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

Division of the Land East of the Jordan

The other half of Manasseh,[a] the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the Lord, had assigned(T) it to them.(U)

It extended from Aroer(V) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau(W) of Medeba as far as Dibon,(X) 10 and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon,(Y) out to the border of the Ammonites.(Z) 11 It also included Gilead,(AA) the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah(AB) 12 that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan,(AC) who had reigned in Ashtaroth(AD) and Edrei.(AE) (He was the last of the Rephaites.(AF)) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land.(AG) 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur(AH) and Maakah,(AI) so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.(AJ)

14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.(AK)

15 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, according to its clans:

16 The territory from Aroer(AL) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba(AM) 17 to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau,(AN) including Dibon,(AO) Bamoth Baal,(AP) Beth Baal Meon,(AQ) 18 Jahaz,(AR) Kedemoth,(AS) Mephaath,(AT) 19 Kiriathaim,(AU) Sibmah,(AV) Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20 Beth Peor,(AW) the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— 21 all the towns on the plateau(AX) and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs,(AY) Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba(AZ)—princes allied with Sihon—who lived in that country. 22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor,(BA) who practiced divination.(BB) 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their clans.(BC)

24 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, according to its clans:

25 The territory of Jazer,(BD) all the towns of Gilead(BE) and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;(BF) 26 and from Heshbon(BG) to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim(BH) to the territory of Debir;(BI) 27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah,(BJ) Sukkoth(BK) and Zaphon(BL) with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Galilee[b](BM)). 28 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites,(BN) according to their clans.

29 This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans:

30 The territory extending from Mahanaim(BO) and including all of Bashan,(BP) the entire realm of Og king of Bashan(BQ)—all the settlements of Jair(BR) in Bashan, sixty towns, 31 half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan).(BS) This was for the descendants of Makir(BT) son of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans.(BU)

32 This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab(BV) across the Jordan east of Jericho.(BW) 33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance;(BX) the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance,(BY) as he promised them.(BZ)

Division of the Land West of the Jordan

14 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance(CA) in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar(CB) the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel(CC) allotted(CD) to them.(CE) Their inheritances were assigned by lot(CF) to the nine and a half tribes,(CG) as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Moses had granted the two and a half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan(CH) but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest,(CI) for Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim.(CJ) The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.(CK) So the Israelites divided the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.(CL)

Allotment for Caleb

Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,(CM) and Caleb son of Jephunneh(CN) the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God(CO) at Kadesh Barnea(CP) about you and me.(CQ) I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea(CR) to explore the land.(CS) And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,(CT) but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.(CU) I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.(CV) So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance(CW) and that of your children(CX) forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’[c]

10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised,(CY) he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved(CZ) about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!(DA) 11 I am still as strong(DB) today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous(DC) to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.(DD) You yourself heard then that the Anakites(DE) were there and their cities were large and fortified,(DF) but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed(DG) Caleb son of Jephunneh(DH) and gave him Hebron(DI) as his inheritance.(DJ) 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.(DK) 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba(DL) after Arba,(DM) who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest(DN) from war.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 13:8 Hebrew With it (that is, with the other half of Manasseh)
  2. Joshua 13:27 Hebrew Kinnereth
  3. Joshua 14:9 Deut. 1:36

God Shall Scatter His Enemies

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

68 (A)God shall arise, his enemies shall be (B)scattered;
    and those who hate him shall flee before him!
As (C)smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
    (D)as wax melts before fire,
    so the wicked shall perish before God!
But (E)the righteous shall be glad;
    they shall exult before God;
    they shall be jubilant with joy!

Sing to God, (F)sing praises to his name;
    (G)lift up a song to him who (H)rides through (I)the deserts;
his name is (J)the Lord;
    exult before him!
(K)Father of the fatherless and (L)protector of widows
    is God in his holy habitation.
God (M)settles the solitary in a home;
    he (N)leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
    but (O)the rebellious dwell in (P)a parched land.

O God, when you (Q)went out before your people,
    (R)when you marched through (S)the wilderness, Selah
(T)the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God,[a] the God of Israel.
(U)Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
    you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock[b] found a dwelling in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you (V)provided for the needy.

11 The Lord gives (W)the word;
    (X)the women who announce the news are a great host:
12     (Y)“The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home (Z)divide the spoil—
13     though you men lie among (AA)the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
    its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,
    let snow fall on (AB)Zalmon.

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
    O many-peaked[c] mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
    at the mount that God (AC)desired for his abode,
    yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?
17 (AD)The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
    thousands upon thousands;
    the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 (AE)You ascended on high,
    (AF)leading a host of captives in your train
    and (AG)receiving gifts among men,
even among (AH)the rebellious, (AI)that the Lord God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord,
    who daily (AJ)bears us up;
    God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
    (AK)and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 (AL)But God will strike 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 (AM)from Bashan,
(AN)I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may (AO)strike your feet in their blood,
    that (AP)the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

24 Your procession is[d] seen, O God,
    the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 (AQ)the singers in front, (AR)the musicians last,
    between them (AS)virgins playing tambourines:
26 (AT)“Bless God in the great congregation,
    the Lord, O you[e] who are of (AU)Israel's fountain!”
27 There is (AV)Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
    the princes of Judah in their throng,
    the princes of (AW)Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 (AX)Summon your power, O God,[f]
    the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
    kings shall (AY)bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke (AZ)the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
    the herd of (BA)bulls with the calves of the peoples.
(BB)Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
    scatter the peoples who delight in war.[g]
31 Nobles shall come from (BC)Egypt;
    (BD)Cush shall hasten to (BE)stretch out her hands to God.

32 (BF)O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
    sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 to him (BG)who rides in (BH)the heavens, the ancient heavens;
    behold, he (BI)sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 (BJ)Ascribe power to God,
    whose majesty is over Israel,
    and whose (BK)power is in (BL)the skies.
35 (BM)Awesome is God from his[h] (BN)sanctuary;
    the God of Israel—he is the one who gives (BO)power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 68:8 Or before God, even Sinai before God
  2. Psalm 68:10 Or your congregation
  3. Psalm 68:15 Or hunch-backed; also verse 16
  4. Psalm 68:24 Or has been
  5. Psalm 68:26 The Hebrew for you is plural here
  6. Psalm 68:28 By revocalization (compare Septuagint); Hebrew Your God has summoned your power
  7. Psalm 68:30 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
  8. Psalm 68:35 Septuagint; Hebrew your

Psalm 68[a]

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 clouds[b](I);
    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 lonely(N) in families,[c](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,[d](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.
10 Your people settled in it,
    and from your bounty,(Y) God, you provided(Z) for the poor.

11 The Lord announces the word,
    and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:(AA)
12 “Kings and armies flee(AB) in haste;
    the women at home divide the plunder.(AC)
13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,[e](AD)
    the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
    its feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty[f] scattered(AE) the kings in the land,
    it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.(AF)

15 Mount Bashan,(AG) majestic mountain,(AH)
    Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
    at the mountain where God chooses(AI) to reign,
    where the Lord himself will dwell forever?(AJ)
17 The chariots(AK) of God are tens of thousands
    and thousands of thousands;(AL)
    the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.[g]
18 When you ascended(AM) on high,(AN)
    you took many captives;(AO)
    you received gifts from people,(AP)
even from[h] the rebellious(AQ)
    that you,[i] Lord God, might dwell there.

19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,(AR)
    who daily bears our burdens.(AS)
20 Our God is a God who saves;(AT)
    from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.(AU)
21 Surely God will crush the heads(AV) of his enemies,
    the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
22 The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;
    I will bring them from the depths of the sea,(AW)
23 that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,(AX)
    while the tongues of your dogs(AY) have their share.”

24 Your procession, God, has come into view,
    the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.(AZ)
25 In front are the singers,(BA) after them the musicians;(BB)
    with them are the young women playing the timbrels.(BC)
26 Praise God in the great congregation;(BD)
    praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.(BE)
27 There is the little tribe(BF) of Benjamin,(BG) leading them,
    there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
    and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.(BH)

28 Summon your power,(BI) God[j];
    show us your strength,(BJ) our God, as you have done(BK) before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
    kings will bring you gifts.(BL)
30 Rebuke the beast(BM) among the reeds,(BN)
    the herd of bulls(BO) among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
    Scatter the nations(BP) who delight in war.(BQ)
31 Envoys will come from Egypt;(BR)
    Cush[k](BS) will submit herself to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,(BT)
    sing praise(BU) to the Lord,
33 to him who rides(BV) across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
    who thunders(BW) with mighty voice.(BX)
34 Proclaim the power(BY) of God,
    whose majesty(BZ) is over Israel,
    whose power is in the heavens.
35 You, God, are awesome(CA) in your sanctuary;(CB)
    the God of Israel gives power and strength(CC) to his people.(CD)

Praise be to God!(CE)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 68:1 In Hebrew texts 68:1-35 is numbered 68:2-36.
  2. Psalm 68:4 Or name, / prepare the way for him who rides through the deserts
  3. Psalm 68:6 Or the desolate in a homeland
  4. Psalm 68:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 19 and 32.
  5. Psalm 68:13 Or the campfires; or the saddlebags
  6. Psalm 68:14 Hebrew Shaddai
  7. Psalm 68:17 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text Lord is among them at Sinai in holiness
  8. Psalm 68:18 Or gifts for people, / even
  9. Psalm 68:18 Or they
  10. Psalm 68:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts Your God has summoned power for you
  11. Psalm 68:31 That is, the upper Nile region