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Psalm 68
Legacy Standard Bible

Let God’s Enemies Be Scattered

For the choir director. A Psalm of David. A Song.

68 [a]Let (A)God arise, [b]let His enemies be scattered,
And [c]let those who hate Him flee before Him.
2 As (B)smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As (C)wax melts before the fire,
So let the (D)wicked perish before God.
3 But let the (E)righteous be glad; let them exult before God;
And let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God, (F)sing praises to His name;
[d](G)Lift up a song for Him who (H)rides through the deserts,
Whose (I)name is [e]Yah, and exult before Him.

5 A (J)father of the fatherless and a (K)judge [f]for the widows,
Is God in His (L)holy habitation.
6 God (M)causes the lonely to inhabit a home;
He (N)leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only (O)the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when You (P)went forth before Your people,
When You (Q)marched through the wasteland, [g]Selah.
8 The (R)earth quaked;
The (S)heavens also dripped rain at the presence of God;
[h](T)Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You (U)caused abundant rain to sprinkle down, O God;
You established Your inheritance when it was [i]parched.
10 Your creatures inhabited it;
You (V)established it in Your goodness for the poor, O God.

11 The Lord gives the word;
The (W)women who proclaim the good news are a great host:
12 “(X)Kings of armies retreat, they retreat,
And she who remains at home will (Y)divide the spoil!”
13 If you men lie down (Z)among the [j]sheepfolds,
You all would be like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And its pinions with glistening gold.
14 When the Almighty (AA)dispersed the kings [k]there,
It was snowing in (AB)Zalmon.

15 A [l](AC)mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan;
A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
16 Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks,
At the mountain which God has (AD)prized for His habitation?
Surely (AE)Yahweh will dwell there forever.
17 The (AF)chariots of God are [m]myriads, (AG)thousands upon thousands;
[n]The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
18 You have (AH)ascended on high, You have (AI)led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among men,
Even among the rebellious also, that Yah—God—may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily (AJ)bears our burden,
(AK)The God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is to us a (AL)God of [o]salvation;
And (AM)to Yahweh the Lord belong escapes [p]from death.
21 Surely God will (AN)crush the head of His enemies,
The hairy [q]skull of him who goes on in his guilty deeds.
22 The Lord [r]said, “(AO)I will bring them back from Bashan.
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
23 That [s](AP)your foot may crush them in blood,
The tongue of your (AQ)dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”

24 They have seen (AR)Your [t]procession, O God,
The [u]procession of my God, my King, [v](AS)into the sanctuary.
25 The (AT)singers went on, the musicians after them,
[w]In the midst of the (AU)maidens beating tambourines.
26 (AV)Bless God in the congregations,
Yahweh, the (AW)fountain of Israel.
27 There is (AX)Benjamin, the [x]youngest, [y]having dominion over them,
The princes of Judah in their throng,
The princes of (AY)Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 [z]Your God has (AZ)commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, O God, (BA)who has worked [aa]on our behalf.
29 [ab]Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
(BB)Kings will bring gifts to You.
30 Rebuke the (BC)beast [ac]in the reeds,
The herd of (BD)bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling under foot the pieces of silver;
He has (BE)cast out the peoples who delight in war.
31 Envoys will come out of (BF)Egypt;
[ad](BG)Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, O (BH)kingdoms of the earth,
(BI)Sing praises to the Lord, Selah.
33 To Him who (BJ)rides upon the [ae](BK)highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, (BL)He gives forth His voice, a (BM)voice that is strong.
34 (BN)Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel
And (BO)His strength is in the [af]skies.
35 [ag]O God, You are (BP)awesome from Your [ah]sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself (BQ)gives strength and might to the people.
(BR)Blessed be God!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 68:1 Or God shall
  2. Psalm 68:1 Or His enemies shall
  3. Psalm 68:1 Or those who hate Him shall
  4. Psalm 68:4 Or Cast up a highway
  5. Psalm 68:4 The shortened form of Yahweh, found in poetry and praise (e.g. Hallelujah), and in names (e.g. Zechariah)
  6. Psalm 68:5 Lit of
  7. Psalm 68:7 Selah may mean Pause, Crescendo, Musical Interlude
  8. Psalm 68:8 Lit This is Sinai which
  9. Psalm 68:9 Lit weary
  10. Psalm 68:13 Or cooking stones, saddle bags
  11. Psalm 68:14 Lit in it
  12. Psalm 68:15 Or mighty mountain is
  13. Psalm 68:17 Lit twice ten thousand
  14. Psalm 68:17 Or The Lord came from Sinai into the sanctuary
  15. Psalm 68:20 Lit salvations
  16. Psalm 68:20 In view of; lit for
  17. Psalm 68:21 Or crown
  18. Psalm 68:22 Or says
  19. Psalm 68:23 Some versions render, you may bathe your foot in blood
  20. Psalm 68:24 Lit goings
  21. Psalm 68:24 Lit goings
  22. Psalm 68:24 Lit in the sanctuary; or in holiness
  23. Psalm 68:25 Or The maidens in the midst
  24. Psalm 68:27 Or smallest
  25. Psalm 68:27 Or their ruler
  26. Psalm 68:28 Some mss Command, God
  27. Psalm 68:28 Lit for us
  28. Psalm 68:29 Or From Your temple
  29. Psalm 68:30 Lit of
  30. Psalm 68:31 Or Cush, cf. Gen 10:6
  31. Psalm 68:33 Lit heaven of heavens of old
  32. Psalm 68:34 Lit clouds
  33. Psalm 68:35 Or Awesome is God from your sanctuary
  34. Psalm 68:35 Lit holy places
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Psalm 68
American Standard Version

Jehovah the God of Sinai and of the sanctuary.

For the Chief Musician; A Psalm of David, a Song.

[a]68 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered;
Let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away:
As wax melteth before the fire,
So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God:
Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name:
Cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts;
His name is [b]Jehovah; and exult ye before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows,
Is God in his holy habitation.
6 God [c]setteth the solitary in families:
He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity;
But the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people,
When thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah
8 The earth trembled,
The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God:
Yon Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain,
Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy [d]congregation dwelt therein:
Thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord giveth the word:
The women that publish the tidings are a great host.
12 Kings of armies flee, they flee;
And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.
13 [e]When ye lie among the sheepfolds,
It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And her pinions with yellow gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings therein,
It [f]was as when it snoweth in Zalmon.
15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan;
A [g]high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.
16 Why look ye askance, ye high mountains,
At the mountain which God hath desired for his abode?
Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands:
The Lord is among them, [h]as in Sinai, in the sanctuary.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives;
Thou hast received gifts among men,
Yea, among the rebellious also, that [i]Jehovah God might [j]dwell with them.

19 Blessed be [k]the Lord, who daily beareth our burden,
Even the God who is our salvation. Selah
20 God is unto us a God of deliverances;
And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death.
21 But God will smite through the head of his enemies,
The hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his guiltiness.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan,
I will bring them again from the depths of the sea;
23 That thou mayest crush them, dipping thy foot in blood,
That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from thine enemies.
24 They have seen thy goings, O God,
Even the goings of my God, my King, [l]into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after,
In the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations,
Even the Lord, ye that are of the fountain of Israel.
27 There is little Benjamin their ruler,
The princes of Judah and their [m]council,
The princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength:
[n]Strengthen, O God, that which thou [o]hast wrought for us.
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem
Kings shall bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds,
The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples,
[p]Trampling under foot the pieces of silver:
[q]He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt;
[r]Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth;
Oh sing praises unto the Lord; Selah
33 To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old;
Lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God:
His excellency is over Israel,
And his strength is in the skies.
35 [s]O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places:
The God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto his people.
Blessed be God.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 68:1 Or, God ariseth; and so throughout verses 1, 2, 3
  2. Psalm 68:4 Hebrew Jah.
  3. Psalm 68:6 Hebrew maketh the solitary to dwell in a house.
  4. Psalm 68:10 Or, troop
  5. Psalm 68:13 Or, Will ye lie among the sheepfolds, as the wings . . . gold?
  6. Psalm 68:14 Or, snowed
  7. Psalm 68:15 Hebrew mountain of summits.
  8. Psalm 68:17 Or, Sinai is in the sanctuary
  9. Psalm 68:18 Hebrew Jah.
  10. Psalm 68:18 Or, dwell there
  11. Psalm 68:19 Or, the Lord day by day: if one oppresseth us, God is our salvation
  12. Psalm 68:24 Or, in the sanctuary. Or, in holiness
  13. Psalm 68:27 Or, company
  14. Psalm 68:28 Or, Be strong, O God, thou that hast etc.
  15. Psalm 68:28 Or, hast wrought for us out of thy temple. Unto Jerusalem etc.
  16. Psalm 68:30 Or, Every one submitting himself with pieces of silver
  17. Psalm 68:30 Or, as otherwise read, Scatter thou
  18. Psalm 68:31 Hebrew Cush.
  19. Psalm 68:35 Or, Terrible is God
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Psalm 68
New International Version

Psalm 68[a]

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.

1 May God arise,(A) may his enemies be scattered;(B)
    may his foes flee(C) before him.
2 May you blow them away like smoke—(D)
    as wax melts(E) before the fire,
    may the wicked perish(F) before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad
    and rejoice(G) before God;
    may they be happy and joyful.

4 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)
5 A father to the fatherless,(K) a defender of widows,(L)
    is God in his holy dwelling.(M)
6 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)

7 When you, God, went out(R) before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness,[d](S)
8 the earth shook,(T) the heavens poured down rain,(U)
    before God, the One of Sinai,(V)
    before God, the God of Israel.(W)
9 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
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