Psalms 68

¹ For the leader. A psalm of David; a song.

² God will arise for battle; the enemy will be scattered; those who hate God will flee.

³ The wind will disperse them like smoke; as wax is melted by fire, so the wicked will perish before God.

⁴ Then the just will be glad; they will rejoice before God; they will celebrate with great joy.

⁵ Sing to God, praise the divine name; exalt the rider of the clouds. Rejoice before this God whose name is the LORD.

⁶ Father of the fatherless, defender of widows-- this is the God whose abode is holy,

⁷ Who gives a home to the forsaken, who leads prisoners out to prosperity, while rebels live in the desert.

⁸ God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the desert, Selah

⁹ The earth quaked, the heavens shook, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

¹⁰ You claimed a land as your own, O God;

¹¹ your people settled there. There you poured abundant rains, God, graciously given to the poor in their need.

¹² The Lord announced the news of victory:

¹² All you people so numerous,

¹³ "The kings and their armies are in desperate flight.

¹³ b) Every household will share the booty,

¹⁴ will you stay by the sheepfolds?

¹⁴ b) perhaps a dove sheathed with silver,

¹⁴ c) its wings covered with yellow gold."

¹⁵ When the Almighty routed the kings there, the spoils were scattered like snow on Zalmon.

¹⁶ You high mountains of Bashan, you rugged mountains of Bashan,

¹⁷ You rugged mountains, why look with envy at the mountain where God has chosen to dwell, where the LORD resides forever?

¹⁸ God's chariots were myriad, thousands upon thousands; from Sinai the Lord entered the holy place.

¹⁹ You went up to its lofty height; you took captives, received slaves as tribute. No rebels can live in the presence of God.

²⁰ Blessed be the Lord day by day, God, our salvation, who carries us. Selah

²¹ Our God is a God who saves; escape from death is in the LORD God's hands.

²² God will crush the skulls of the enemy, the hairy heads of those who walk in sin.

²³ The Lord has said: "Even from Bashan I will fetch them, fetch them even from the depths of the sea.

²⁴ You will wash your feet in your enemy's blood; the tongues of your dogs will lap it up."

²⁵ Your procession comes into view, O God, your procession into the holy place, my God and king.

²⁶ The singers go first, the harpists follow; in their midst girls sound the timbrels.

²⁷ In your choirs, bless God; bless the LORD, you from Israel's assemblies.

²⁸ In the lead is Benjamin, few in number; there the princes of Judah, a large throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali, too.

²⁹ Summon again, O God, your power, the divine power you once showed for us.

³⁰ Show it from your temple on behalf of Jerusalem, that kings may bring you tribute.

³¹ Roar at the wild beast of the reeds, the herd of mighty bulls, the lords of nations; scatter the nations that delight in war.

³² Exact rich tribute from lower Egypt, from upper Egypt, gold and silver; make Ethiopia extend its hands to God.

³³ You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; chant the praises of the Lord, Selah

³⁴ Who rides the heights of the ancient heavens, whose voice is thunder, mighty thunder.

³⁵ Confess the power of God, whose majesty protects Israel, whose power is in the sky.

³⁶ Awesome is God in his holy place, the God of Israel, who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!