Psalms 68

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