| Chapter 68 |
1 | To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. A Song. Let God be seen, and let his haters be put to flight; let those who are against him be turned back before him. |
2 | Let them be like smoke before the driving wind; as wax turning soft before the fire, so let them come to an end before the power of God. |
3 | But let the upright be glad; let them have delight before God; let them be full of joy. |
4 | Make songs to God, make songs of praise to his name; make a way for him who comes through the waste lands; his name is Jah; be glad before him. |
5 | A father to those who have no father, a judge of the widows, is God in his holy place. |
6 | Those who are without friends, God puts in families; he makes free those who are in chains; but those who are turned away from him are given a dry land. |
7 | O God, when you went out before your people, wandering through the waste land; (Selah.) |
8 | The earth was shaking and the heavens were streaming, because God was present; even Sinai itself was moved before God, the God of Israel. |
9 | You, O God, did freely send the rain, giving strength to the weariness of your heritage. |
10 | Those whose resting-place was there, even the poor, were comforted by your good things, O God. |
11 | The Lord gives the word; great is the number of the women who make it public. |
12 | Kings of armies quickly go in flight: and the women in the houses make a division of their goods. |
13 | Will you take your rest among the flocks? like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and its feathers with yellow gold. |
14 | When the Most High put the kings to flight, it was as white as snow in Salmon. |
15 | A hill of God is the hill of Bashan; a hill with high tops is the hill of Bashan. |
16 | Why are you looking with envy, you high hills, on the hill desired by God as his resting-place? truly, God will make it his house for ever. |
17 | The war-carriage of God is among Israel's thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai to the holy place. |
18 | You have gone up on high, taking your prisoners with you; you have taken offerings from men; the Lord God has taken his place on the seat of his power. |
19 | Praise be to the Lord, who is our support day by day, even the God of our salvation. (Selah.) |
20 | Our God is for us a God of salvation; his are the ways out of death. |
21 | The heads of the haters of God will be crushed; even the head of him who still goes on in his evil ways. |
22 | The Lord said, I will make them come back from Bashan, and from the deep parts of the sea; |
23 | So that your foot may be red with blood, and the tongues of your dogs with the same. |
24 | We see your going, O God: even the going of my God, my King, into the holy place. |
25 | The makers of songs go before, the players of music come after, among the young girls playing on brass instruments. |
26 | Give praise to God in the great meeting; even the Lord, you who come from the fountain of Israel. |
27 | There is little Benjamin ruling them, the chiefs of Judah and their army, the rulers of Zebulun and the rulers of Naphtali. |
28 | O God, send out your strength; the strength, O God, with which you have done great things for us, |
29 | Out of your Temple in Jerusalem. |
30 | Say sharp words to the beast among the water-plants, the band of strong ones, with the lords of the peoples, put an end to the people whose delight is in war. |
31 | Kings will give you offerings, they will come out of Egypt; from Pathros will come offerings of silver; Ethiopia will be stretching out her hands to God. |
32 | Make songs to God, you kingdoms of the earth; O make songs of praise to the Lord; (Selah.) |
33 | To him who goes or the clouds of heaven, the heaven which was from earliest times; he sends out his voice of power. |
34 | Make clear that strength is God's: he is lifted up over Israel, and his power is in the clouds. |
35 | O God, you are to be feared in your holy place: the God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God. |