Psalms 68

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 For the leader. A psalm of David; a song.	1 [For the choirmaster Of David Psalm Song] Let God arise, let his enemies scatter, let his opponentsflee before him.
2 God will arise for battle; the enemy will be scattered; those who hate God will flee.	2 You disperse them like smoke; as wax melts in the presence of a fire, so the wicked melt at thepresence of God.
3 The wind will disperse them like smoke; as wax is melted by fire, so the wicked will perish before God.	3 The upright rejoice in the presence of God, delighted and crying out for joy.
4 Then the just will be glad; they will rejoice before God; they will celebrate with great joy.	4 Sing to God, play music to his name, build a road for the Rider of the Clouds, rejoice in Yahweh,dance before him.
5 Sing to God, praise the divine name; exalt the rider of the clouds. Rejoice before this God whose name is the LORD.	5 Father of orphans, defender of widows, such is God in his holy dwel ing.
6 Father of the fatherless, defender of widows-- this is the God whose abode is holy,	6 God gives the lonely a home to live in, leads prisoners out into prosperity, but rebels must live in thebare wastelands.
7 Who gives a home to the forsaken, who leads prisoners out to prosperity, while rebels live in the desert.	7 God, when you set out at the head of your people, when you strode over the desert,
8 God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the desert, Selah	8 the earth rocked,Pause the heavens pelted down rain at the presence of God, at the presence of God,the God of Israel.
9 The earth quaked, the heavens shook, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.	9 God, you rained down a shower of blessings, when your heritage was weary you gave it strength.
10 You claimed a land as your own, O God;	10 Your family found a home, which you in your generosity provided for the humble.
11 your people settled there. There you poured abundant rains, God, graciously given to the poor in their need.	11 The Lord gave a command, the good news of a countless army.
12 All you people so numerous,	12 The chieftains of the army are in flight, in flight, and the fair one at home is sharing out the spoils.
13 b) Every household will share the booty,	13 While you are at ease in the sheepfolds, the wings of the Dove are being covered with silver, and herfeathers with a sheen of green gold;
14 c) its wings covered with yellow gold."	14 when Shaddai scatters the chieftains, through her it snows on the Dark Mountain.
15 When the Almighty routed the kings there, the spoils were scattered like snow on Zalmon.	15 A mountain of God, the mountain of Bashan! a haughty mountain, the mountain of Bashan!
16 You high mountains of Bashan, you rugged mountains of Bashan,	16 Why be envious, haughty mountains, of the mountain God has chosen for his dwel ing? There Godwil dwell for ever.
17 You rugged mountains, why look with envy at the mountain where God has chosen to dwell, where the LORD resides forever?	17 The chariots of God are thousand upon thousand; God has come from Sinai to the sanctuary.
18 God's chariots were myriad, thousands upon thousands; from Sinai the Lord entered the holy place.	18 You have climbed the heights, taken captives, you have taken men as tribute, even rebels thatYahweh God might have a dwelling-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.	19 Blessed be the Lord day after day, he carries us along, God our Saviour.Pause
20 Blessed be the Lord day by day, God, our salvation, who carries us. Selah	20 This God of ours is a God who saves; from Lord Yahweh comes escape from death;
21 Our God is a God who saves; escape from death is in the LORD God's hands.	21 but God smashes the head of his enemies, the long-haired skul of the prowling criminal.
22 God will crush the skulls of the enemy, the hairy heads of those who walk in sin.	22 The Lord has said, 'I wil bring them back from Bashan, I wil bring them back from the depths of thesea,
23 The Lord has said: "Even from Bashan I will fetch them, fetch them even from the depths of the sea.	23 so that you may bathe your feet in blood, and the tongues of your dogs feast on your enemies.'
24 You will wash your feet in your enemy's blood; the tongues of your dogs will lap it up."	24 Your processions, God, are for all to see, the processions of my God, of my king, to the sanctuary;
25 Your procession comes into view, O God, your procession into the holy place, my God and king.	25 singers ahead, musicians behind, in the middle come girls, beating their drums.
26 The singers go first, the harpists follow; in their midst girls sound the timbrels.	26 In choirs they bless God, Yahweh, since the foundation of Israel.
27 In your choirs, bless God; bless the LORD, you from Israel's assemblies.	27 Benjamin was there, the youngest in front, the princes of Judah in bright-coloured robes, the princesof Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
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.	28 Take command, my God, as befits your power, the power, God, which you have wielded for us,
29 Summon again, O God, your power, the divine power you once showed for us.	29 from your temple high above Jerusalem. Kings wil come to you bearing tribute.
30 Show it from your temple on behalf of Jerusalem, that kings may bring you tribute.	30 Rebuke the Beast of the Reeds, that herd of bul s, that people of calves, who bow down with ingotsof silver. Scatter the people who delight in war.
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.	31 From Egypt nobles wil come, Ethiopia wil stretch out its hands to God.
32 Exact rich tribute from lower Egypt, from upper Egypt, gold and silver; make Ethiopia extend its hands to God.	32 Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, play for
33 You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; chant the praises of the Lord, Selah	33 the Rider of the Heavens, the primeval heavens.Pause There he speaks, with a voice of power!
34 Who rides the heights of the ancient heavens, whose voice is thunder, mighty thunder.	34 Acknowledge the power of God. Over Israel his splendour, in the clouds his power.
35 Confess the power of God, whose majesty protects Israel, whose power is in the sky.	35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary. He, the God of Israel, gives strength and power to his people.Blessed be God.
36 Awesome is God in his holy place, the God of Israel, who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!