² For the Lord Most High^(C) is awesome,^(D)
    the great King^(E) over all the earth.
³ He subdued^(F) nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
⁴ He chose our inheritance^(G) for us,
    the pride of Jacob,^(H) whom he loved.^[b]

⁵ God has ascended^(I) amid shouts of joy,^(J)
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.^(K)
6 Sing praises^(L) to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
⁷ For God is the King of all the earth;^(M)
    sing to him a psalm^(N) of praise.

⁸ God reigns^(O) over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.^(P)
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings^[c] of the earth belong to God;^(Q)
    he is greatly exalted.^(R)

² Beautiful^(W) in its loftiness,
    the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon^[e](X) is Mount Zion,^(Y)
    the city of the Great King.^(Z)
3 God is in her citadels;^(AA)
    he has shown himself to be her fortress.^(AB)

⁴ When the kings joined forces,
    when they advanced together,^(AC)
5 they saw her and were astounded;
    they fled in terror.^(AD)
6 Trembling seized^(AE) them there,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(AF)
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish^(AG)
    shattered by an east wind.^(AH)

⁸ As we have heard,
    so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
    in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
    forever.^[f](AI)

⁹ Within your temple, O God,
    we meditate^(AJ) on your unfailing love.^(AK)
10 Like your name,^(AL) O God,
    your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;^(AM)
    your right hand is filled with righteousness.
¹¹ Mount Zion rejoices,
    the villages of Judah are glad
    because of your judgments.^(AN)

¹² Walk about Zion, go around her,
    count her towers,^(AO)
13 consider well her ramparts,^(AP)
    view her citadels,^(AQ)
that you may tell of them
    to the next generation.^(AR)

¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever;
    he will be our guide^(AS) even to the end.

⁵ Why should I fear^(BC) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
⁶ those who trust in their wealth^(BD)
    and boast^(BE) of their great riches?^(BF)
7 No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
⁸ the ransom^(BG) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—^(BH)
9 so that they should live on^(BI) forever
    and not see decay.^(BJ)
10 For all can see that the wise die,^(BK)
    that the foolish and the senseless^(BL) also perish,
    leaving their wealth^(BM) to others.^(BN)
11 Their tombs^(BO) will remain their houses^[h] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,^(BP)
    though they had^[i] named^(BQ) lands after themselves.

¹² People, despite their wealth, do not endure;^(BR)
    they are like the beasts that perish.^(BS)

¹³ This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,^(BT)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^[j]
14 They are like sheep and are destined^(BU) to die;^(BV)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail^(BW) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
¹⁵ But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;^(BX)
    he will surely take me to himself.^(BY)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
¹⁷ for they will take nothing^(BZ) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.^(CA)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—^(CB)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
¹⁹ they will join those who have gone before them,^(CC)
    who will never again see the light^(CD) of life.

²⁰ People who have wealth but lack understanding^(CE)
    are like the beasts that perish.^(CF)