Psalm 6811
For the music director; by David, a psalm, a song
68:1 God springs into action!1
His enemies scatter,
his adversaries2
run from him.3
68:2 As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you
drive them away.4
As wax melts before fire,
so the wicked are destroyed before God.
68:3 But the godly5
are happy,
they rejoice before God,
and are overcome with joy.6
68:4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!
Exalt the one who rides on the clouds!7
For the LORD is his name!8
Rejoice before him!
68:5 He is a father to the fatherless,
and an advocate for widows.9
God rules from his holy palace.10
68:6 God settles those who have been deserted
in their own homes,11
he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity.12
But sinful rebels live in the desert.13
68:7 O God, when you lead your people into battle,14
when you march through the desert,15
(Selah)
68:8 the earth shakes,
yes, the heavens pour down rain
before God, the God of Sinai,16
before God, the God of Israel.17
68:9 O God, you cause abundant showers to fall18
on your chosen people.19
When they are20
tired, you sustain them,21
68:10 for you live among them.22
You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God.
68:11 The sovereign Master speaks,23
many, many women spread the good news.24
68:12 Kings leading armies run away, they run
away!25
The lovely lady26
of the house divides up the loot.
68:13 When27
you lie down among the sheepfolds,28
the wings of the dove are covered with silver,
and with glittering gold.29
68:14 When the sovereign judge30
scatters kings,31
let it snow32
on Zalmon!
68:15 The mountain of Bashan33
is a towering mountain,34
the mountain of Bashan is a mountain with many peaks.35
68:16 Why do you look with envy,36
O mountains37
with many peaks,
at the mountain where God has decided to live?38
Indeed39
the LORD will live there40
permanently!
68:17 God has countless chariots,
they number in the thousands.41
The sovereign Master comes from Sinai in holy splendor.42
68:18 You ascend on high,43
you have taken many captives.44
You receive tribute45
from46
men,
including even sinful rebels.
Indeed the LORD God lives there!47
68:19 The sovereign Master deserves praise!48
Day after day49
he carries our burden,
the God who delivers us. (Selah)
68:20 Our God is a God who delivers;
the LORD, the sovereign master, can rescue from death.50
68:21 Indeed God strikes the heads of his enemies,
the hairy foreheads of those who persist in rebellion.51
68:22 The sovereign Master says,
“I will retrieve them52
from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
68:23 so that your feet may stomp53
in their blood,
and your dogs may eat their portion of the enemies’ corpses.”54
68:24 They55
see your processions, O God,
the processions of my God, my king, who marches along in holy splendor.56
68:25 Singers walk in front;
musicians follow playing their stringed instruments,57
in the midst of young women playing tambourines.58
68:26 In your large assemblies praise God,
the sovereign Master, in the assemblies of Israel!59
68:27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler,60
and the princes of Judah in their robes,61
along with the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.
68:28 God has decreed that you will be powerful.62
O God, you who have acted on our behalf, demonstrate your power,
68:29 as you come out of your temple in Jerusalem!63
Kings bring tribute to you.
68:30 Sound your battle cry64
against the wild beast of the reeds,65
and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls!66
They humble themselves67
and offer gold and silver as tribute.68
He69
scatters70
the nations that like to do battle.
68:31 They come with red cloth71
from Egypt,
Ethiopia72
voluntarily offers tribute73
to God.
68:32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God!
Sing praises to the sovereign Master, (Selah)
68:33 to the one who rides through the sky from
ancient times!74
Look! He thunders loudly.75
68:34 Acknowledge God’s power,76
his sovereignty over Israel,
and the power he reveals in the skies!77
68:35 You are awe-inspiring, O God, as you emerge
from your holy temple!78
It is the God of Israel79
who gives the people power and strength.
God deserves praise!80