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68 To the Overseer. -- A Psalm, a song of David. Rise doth God -- scattered are His enemies! And those hating Him flee from His face.

As the driving away of smoke Thou drivest away, As the melting of wax before fire, The wicked perish at the presence of God.

And the righteous rejoice, they exult before God, And they joy with gladness.

Sing ye to God -- praise His name, Raise up a highway for Him who is riding in deserts, In Jah [is] His name, and exult before Him.

Father of the fatherless, and judge of the widows, [Is] God in His holy habitation.

God -- causing the lonely to dwell at home, Bringing out bound ones into prosperity, Only -- the refractory have inhabited a dry place.

O God, in Thy going forth before Thy people, In Thy stepping through the wilderness, Selah.

The earth hath shaken, Yea, the heavens have dropped before God, This Sinai -- before God, the God of Israel.

A shower of free-will gifts thou shakest out, O God. Thine inheritance, when it hath been weary, Thou hast established it.

10 Thy company have dwelt in it, Thou preparest in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.

11 The Lord doth give the saying, The female proclaimers [are] a numerous host.

12 Kings of hosts flee utterly away, And a female inhabitant of the house apportioneth spoil.

13 Though ye do lie between two boundaries, Wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.

14 When the Mighty spreadeth kings in it, It doth snow in Salmon.

15 A hill of God [is] the hill of Bashan, A hill of heights [is] the hill of Bashan.

16 Why do ye envy, O high hills, The hill God hath desired for His seat? Jehovah also doth tabernacle for ever.

17 The chariots of God [are] myriads, thousands of changes, The Lord [is] among them, in Sinai, in the sanctuary.

18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast taken captive captivity, Thou hast taken gifts for men, That even the refractory may rest, O Jah God.

19 Blessed [is] the Lord, day by day He layeth on us. God Himself [is] our salvation. Selah.

20 God Himself [is] to us a God for deliverances, And Jehovah Lord hath the outgoings of death.

21 Only -- God doth smite The head of His enemies, The hairy crown of a habitual walker in his guilt.

22 The Lord said: `From Bashan I bring back, I bring back from the depths of the sea.

23 So that thou dashest thy foot in blood, [In the blood of] enemies -- the tongue of Thy dogs.'

24 They have seen Thy goings, O God, Goings of my God, my king, in the sanctuary.

25 Singers have been before, Behind [are] players on instruments, In the midst virgins playing with timbrels.

26 In assemblies bless ye God, The Lord -- from the fountain of Israel.

27 There [is] little Benjamin their ruler, Heads of Judah their defence, Heads of Zebulun -- heads of Naphtali.

28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength, Be strong, O God, this Thou hast wrought for us.

29 Because of Thy temple at Jerusalem, To Thee do kings bring a present.

30 Rebuke a beast of the reeds, a company of bulls, With calves of the peoples, Each humbling himself with pieces of silver, Scatter Thou peoples delighting in conflicts.

31 Come do fat ones out of Egypt, Cush causeth her hands to run to God.

32 Kingdoms of the earth, sing ye to God, Praise ye the Lord. Selah.

33 To him who is riding on the heavens of the heavens of old, Lo, He giveth with His voice a strong voice.

34 Ascribe ye strength to God, Over Israel [is] His excellency, and His strength in the clouds.

35 Fearful, O God, out of Thy sanctuaries, The God of Israel Himself, Giving strength and might to the people. Blessed [is] God!

Praise God Who Saved the Nation

For the director of music. A song of David.

68 Let God come and scatter his enemies.
    Let those who hate him run away.
Blow them away as smoke
    is driven away by the wind.
As wax melts before a fire,
    let the wicked be destroyed before God.
But those who do right should be glad.
    They should rejoice before God.
    They should be happy and glad.

Sing to God. Sing praises to his name.
Prepare the way for him
    who rides through the desert.
His name is the Lord.
    Rejoice before him.
God is in his holy Temple.
    He is a father to orphans.
    He defends the widows.
God gives the lonely a home.
    He leads prisoners out with joy.
    But those who turn against God will live in a dry land.

God, you led your people out.
    You marched through the desert. Selah
The ground shook,
    and the sky poured down rain
before God, the God of Mount Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
God, you sent much rain.
    You refreshed your tired land.
10 Your people settled there.
    God, in your goodness
    you took care of the poor.

11 The Lord gave the command.
    And a great army told the news:
12 “Kings and their armies run away.
    The women at home divide the wealth taken in war.”
13 Those who stayed behind by the sheepfold
    will get the riches taken in battle.
14 God scattered kings
    like snow on Mount Zalmon.

15 The mountains of Bashan are great mountains.
    Mount Bashan has many peaks.
16 Why do you mountains with many peaks look down
    on Mount Zion, which God chose for his home?
    The Lord will live there forever.
17 God comes with millions of chariots.
    The Lord comes from Mount Sinai to his holy place.
18 He went up to the heights.
    He led a parade of captives.
    He received the payment he demanded from the people,
even from those who turned against him.
    And the Lord God will live there.

19 Praise the Lord, day by day.
    God our Savior helps us. Selah
20 Our God is a God who saves us.
    The Lord God saves us from death.

21 God will crush his enemies’ heads,
    the hairy skulls of those who continue to sin.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring the enemy back from Bashan.
    I will bring them back from the depths of the sea.
23 Then you can stick your feet in their blood.
    And your dogs can lick their share.”

24 God, people have seen your victory march.
    God my King marched into the holy place.
25 The singers are in front, and the instruments are behind.
    In the middle are the girls with the tambourines.
26 Praise God in the meeting place.
    Praise the Lord in the gathering of Israel.
27 There is the smallest tribe, Benjamin, leading them.
    And there are the leaders of Judah with their group.
    There also are the leaders of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

28 God, order up your power.
    Show the mighty power you have used for us before.
29 Kings will bring their wealth to you,
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
30 Punish Egypt, the beast among the tall grass along the river.
    Punish the leaders of nations, those bulls among the cows.
Then they will bring you their silver.
    Scatter those nations that love war.
31 Messengers will come from Egypt with forced payment.
    The people of Cush will pray to God.

32 Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Selah
33 Sing to the one who rides through the skies, which are from long ago.
    He speaks with a thundering voice.
34 Announce that God is powerful.
    He rules over Israel.
    His power is in the skies.
35 God, you are wonderful in your Temple.
    The God of Israel gives his people strength and power.

Praise God!

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