Psalm 48
Lexham English Bible
The Greatness of God in Zion
A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.[a]
48 Yahweh is great and very worthy of praise
in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.[b]
2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
is Mount Zion,[c] in the far north,[d]
the city of the great king.
3 God is in her citadels;
he is known as a high stronghold.
4 For see, the kings assembled;[e]
they advanced together.
5 They themselves saw[f] it, so they were astonished.
They were terrified; they ran off.
6 Trembling seized them there—
pain as of a woman in labor.
7 With an east wind
you shatter[g] the ships of Tarshish.[h]
8 As we have heard, so we have seen
in the city of Yahweh of hosts, in the city of our God.
God will establish her forever. Selah
9 We have pondered your loyal love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10 As is your name, O God, so is your praise
to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let Mount Zion[i] rejoice;
let the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion and circle it;
count her towers.
13 Consider well[j] her ramparts.
Go through her citadels
so that you can tell the next generation
14 that this is God, our God forever and ever.
He himself[k] will guide us until death.
Footnotes
- Psalm 48:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
- Psalm 48:1 Literally “mountain of holiness”
- Psalm 48:2 Literally “the mountain of Zion”
- Psalm 48:2 Literally “far of north”; the word translated “north” could refer to Mount Zaphon
- Psalm 48:4 That is, preparing for battle
- Psalm 48:5 Literally “They, they saw”
- Psalm 48:7 A few Hebrew manuscripts read “like an east wind that shatters”
- Psalm 48:7 That is, ships that can sail to Tarshish, i.e. well built, able to traverse great distances
- Psalm 48:11 Literally “the mountain of Zion”
- Psalm 48:13 Literally “Set your heart to”
- Psalm 48:14 Literally “he, he will …”
Psalm 48
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 48
The Glory and Strength of Zion
A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites.
1 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain,(A) 2 beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.(B)
3 Within its citadels God
has shown himself a sure defense.(C)
4 Then the kings assembled;
they came on together.(D)
5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
they were in panic; they took to flight;(E)
6 trembling took hold of them there,
pains as of a woman in labor,
7 as when an east wind shatters
the ships of Tarshish.(F)
8 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 forever. Selah
9 We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10 Your name, O God, like your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with victory.(G)
11 Let Mount Zion be glad;
let the towns[a] of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments.(H)
12 Walk about Zion; go all around it;
count its towers;
13 consider well its ramparts;
go through its citadels,
that you may tell the next generation(I)
14 that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
He will be our guide forever.(J)
Footnotes
- 48.11 Heb daughters
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.