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48 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Psalm 48

Zion Exalted

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

The Lord is great and highly praised
in the city of our God.(A)
His holy mountain, rising splendidly,
is the joy of the whole earth.
Mount Zion on the slopes of the north
is the city of the great King.(B)
God is known as a stronghold
in its citadels.(C)

Look! The kings assembled;
they advanced together.(D)
They looked and froze with fear;
they fled in terror.(E)
Trembling seized them there,
agony like that of a woman in labor,(F)
as You wrecked the ships of Tarshish
with the east wind.(G)

Just as we heard, so we have seen
in the city of Yahweh of Hosts,
in the city of our God;
God will establish it forever.(H)Selah

God, within Your temple,
we contemplate Your faithful love.(I)
10 Your name, God, like Your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth;(J)
Your right hand is filled with justice.(K)
11 Mount Zion is glad.
The towns[a] of Judah rejoice
because of Your judgments.(L)

12 Go around Zion, encircle it;
count its towers,
13 note its ramparts; tour its citadels
so that you can tell a future generation:(M)
14 “This God, our God forever and ever—
He will always lead us.”[b](N)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 48:11 Lit daughters
  2. Psalm 48:14 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read over death

The beauty and glory of Zion.

A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah.

48 Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised,
In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
Is mount Zion, on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
God hath made himself known in her palaces for a [a]refuge.
For, lo, the kings assembled themselves,
They [b]passed by together.
They saw it, then were they amazed;
They were dismayed, they [c]hasted away.
Trembling took hold of them there,
Pain, as of a woman in travail.
[d]With the east wind
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish.
As we have heard, so have we seen
In the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God:
God will establish it for ever. Selah
We have thought on thy lovingkindness, O God,
In the midst of thy temple.
10 As is thy name, O God,
So is thy praise unto the ends of the earth:
Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion be glad,
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice,
Because of thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her;
Number the towers thereof;
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks;
[e]Consider her palaces:
That ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever:
He will be our guide even unto death.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 48:3 Or, high tower
  2. Psalm 48:4 Or, passed away
  3. Psalm 48:5 Or, were stricken with terror
  4. Psalm 48:7 Or, As with the east wind that breaketh
  5. Psalm 48:13 Or, Traverse

48 A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah. Great [is] Jehovah, and praised greatly, In the city of our God -- His holy hill.

Beautiful [for] elevation, A joy of all the land, [is] Mount Zion, The sides of the north, the city of a great king.

God in her high places is known for a tower.

For, lo, the kings met, they passed by together,

They have seen -- so they have marvelled, They have been troubled, they were hastened away.

Trembling hath seized them there, Pain, as of a travailing woman.

By an east wind Thou shiverest ships of Tarshish.

As we have heard, so we have seen, In the city of Jehovah of hosts, In the city of our God, God doth establish her -- to the age. Selah.

We have thought, O God, of Thy kindness, In the midst of Thy temple,

10 As [is] Thy name, O God, so [is] Thy praise, Over the ends of the earth, Righteousness hath filled Thy right hand.

11 Rejoice doth Mount Zion, The daughters of Judah are joyful, For the sake of Thy judgments.

12 Compass Zion, and go round her, count her towers,

13 Set your heart to her bulwark, Consider her high places, So that ye recount to a later generation,

14 That this God [is] our God -- To the age and for ever, He -- he doth lead us over death!

The Glory and Strength of Zion

A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

48 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
    in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
    is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
    the city of the great King.
Within her citadels God
    has shown himself a sure defense.

For lo, the kings assembled,
    they came on together.
As soon as they saw it, they were astounded,
    they were in panic, they took to flight;
trembling took hold of them there,
    anguish as of a woman in travail.
By the east wind thou didst shatter
    the ships of Tarshish.
As we have heard, so have we seen
    in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
    which God establishes for ever.Selah

We have thought on thy steadfast love, O God,
    in the midst of thy temple.
10 As thy name, O God,
    so thy praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Thy right hand is filled with victory;
11     let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
    because of thy judgments!

12 Walk about Zion, go round about her,
    number her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
    go through her citadels;
that you may tell the next generation
14     that this is God,
our God for ever and ever.
    He will be our guide for ever.