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(A special song by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)

God Is Our Mighty Fortress

God is our mighty fortress,
always ready to help
    in times of trouble.
And so, we won't be afraid!
Let the earth tremble
and the mountains tumble
    into the deepest sea.
Let the ocean roar and foam,
and its raging waves
    shake the mountains.

A river and its streams
    bring joy to the city,
which is the sacred home
    of God Most High.
God is in that city,
and it won't be shaken.
    He will help it at dawn.

Nations rage! Kingdoms fall!
But at the voice of God
    the earth itself melts.
The Lord All-Powerful
    is with us.
The God of Jacob
    is our fortress.

Come! See the fearsome things
    the Lord has done on earth.
God brings wars to an end
    all over the world.
He breaks the arrows,
shatters the spears,
    and burns the shields.[a]
10 Our God says, “Calm down,
    and learn that I am God!
All nations on earth
    will honor me.”

11 The Lord All-Powerful
    is with us.
The God of Jacob
    is our fortress.

(A psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)

God Rules the Nations

All of you nations,
clap your hands and shout
    joyful praises to God.
The Lord Most High is fearsome,
    the ruler of all the earth.
God has put every nation
    under our power,
and he chose for us the land
that was the pride of Jacob,
    his favorite.

God goes up to his throne,
as people shout
    and trumpets blast.
Sing praises to God our King,
the ruler of all the earth!
    Praise God with songs.

God rules the nations
    from his sacred throne.
Their leaders come together
and are now the people
    of Abraham's God.
All rulers on earth
surrender their weapons,
    and God is greatly praised!

Footnotes

  1. 46.9 shields: Or “chariots.”

Psalm 46[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

God is our refuge(A) and strength,(B)
    an ever-present(C) help(D) in trouble.(E)
Therefore we will not fear,(F) though the earth give way(G)
    and the mountains fall(H) into the heart of the sea,(I)
though its waters roar(J) and foam(K)
    and the mountains quake(L) with their surging.[c]

There is a river(M) whose streams(N) make glad the city of God,(O)
    the holy place where the Most High(P) dwells.(Q)
God is within her,(R) she will not fall;(S)
    God will help(T) her at break of day.
Nations(U) are in uproar,(V) kingdoms(W) fall;
    he lifts his voice,(X) the earth melts.(Y)

The Lord Almighty(Z) is with us;(AA)
    the God of Jacob(AB) is our fortress.(AC)

Come and see what the Lord has done,(AD)
    the desolations(AE) he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars(AF) cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow(AG) and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields[d] with fire.(AH)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(AI)
    I will be exalted(AJ) among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob(AK) is our fortress.(AL)

Psalm 47[e]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Clap your hands,(AM) all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.(AN)

For the Lord Most High(AO) is awesome,(AP)
    the great King(AQ) over all the earth.
He subdued(AR) nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance(AS) for us,
    the pride of Jacob,(AT) whom he loved.[f]

God has ascended(AU) amid shouts of joy,(AV)
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(AW)
Sing praises(AX) to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;(AY)
    sing to him a psalm(AZ) of praise.

God reigns(BA) over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.(BB)
The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[g] of the earth belong to God;(BC)
    he is greatly exalted.(BD)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
  2. Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
  4. Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
  5. Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
  6. Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  7. Psalm 47:9 Or shields