Psalms 68

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 [For the choirmaster Of David Psalm Song] Let God arise, let his enemies scatter, let his opponentsflee before him.	1 Unto the end. For those who will be changed: of David.
2 You disperse them like smoke; as wax melts in the presence of a fire, so the wicked melt at thepresence of God.	2 Save me, O God, for the waters have entered, even to my soul.
3 The upright rejoice in the presence of God, delighted and crying out for joy.	3 I have become stuck in a deep quagmire, and there is no firm footing. I have arrived at the height of the sea, and a tempest has overwhelmed me.
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 I have endured hardships, while crying out. My jaws have become hoarse; my eyes have failed. Meanwhile, I hope in my God.
5 Father of orphans, defender of widows, such is God in his holy dwel ing.	5 Those who hate me without cause have been multiplied beyond the hairs of my head. My enemies, who persecuted me unjustly, have been strengthened. Then I was required to pay for what I did not take.
6 God gives the lonely a home to live in, leads prisoners out into prosperity, but rebels must live in thebare wastelands.	6 O God, you know my foolishness, and my offenses have not been hidden from you.
7 God, when you set out at the head of your people, when you strode over the desert,	7 Let those who wait for you, O Lord, the Lord of hosts, not be shamed in me. Let those who seek you, O God of Israel, not be confounded over me.
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 For because of you, I have endured reproach; confusion has covered my face.
9 God, you rained down a shower of blessings, when your heritage was weary you gave it strength.	9 I have become a stranger to my brothers and a sojourner to the sons of my mother.
10 Your family found a home, which you in your generosity provided for the humble.	10 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproached you have fallen upon me.
11 The Lord gave a command, the good news of a countless army.	11 And I covered my soul with fasting, and it has become a reproach to me.
12 The chieftains of the army are in flight, in flight, and the fair one at home is sharing out the spoils.	12 And I put on a haircloth as my garment, and I became a parable to them.
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 Those who sat at the gate spoke against me, and those who drank wine made me their song.
14 when Shaddai scatters the chieftains, through her it snows on the Dark Mountain.	14 But as for me, truly, my prayer is to you, O Lord. This time has pleased you well, O God. In the multitude of your mercy, in the truth of your salvation, hear me.
15 A mountain of God, the mountain of Bashan! a haughty mountain, the mountain of Bashan!	15 Rescue me from the quagmire, so that I may not become trapped. Free me from those who hate me and from deep waters.
16 Why be envious, haughty mountains, of the mountain God has chosen for his dwel ing? There Godwil dwell for ever.	16 Do not allow the tempest of water to submerge me, nor the deep to absorb me. And do not allow the well to close in on me.
17 The chariots of God are thousand upon thousand; God has come from Sinai to the sanctuary.	17 Hear me, O Lord, for your mercy is kind. Look upon me, according to the fullness of your compassion.
18 You have climbed the heights, taken captives, you have taken men as tribute, even rebels thatYahweh God might have a dwelling-place.	18 And do not turn your face away from your servant, for I am in trouble: heed me quickly.
19 Blessed be the Lord day after day, he carries us along, God our Saviour.Pause	19 Attend to my soul, and free it. Rescue me, because of my enemies.
20 This God of ours is a God who saves; from Lord Yahweh comes escape from death;	20 You know my reproach, and my confusion, and my reverence.
21 but God smashes the head of his enemies, the long-haired skul of the prowling criminal.	21 All those who trouble me are in your sight; my heart has anticipated reproach and misery. And I sought for one who might grieve together with me, but there was no one, and for one who might console me, and I found no one.
22 The Lord has said, 'I wil bring them back from Bashan, I wil bring them back from the depths of thesea,	22 And they gave me gall for my food. And in my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.
23 so that you may bathe your feet in blood, and the tongues of your dogs feast on your enemies.'	23 Let their table be a snare before them, and a retribution, and a scandal.
24 Your processions, God, are for all to see, the processions of my God, of my king, to the sanctuary;	24 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they may not see, and may their back always be crooked.
25 singers ahead, musicians behind, in the middle come girls, beating their drums.	25 Pour out your indignation upon them, and may the fury of your anger take hold of them.
26 In choirs they bless God, Yahweh, since the foundation of Israel.	26 May their dwelling place be deserted, and may there be no one who dwells in their tabernacles.
27 Benjamin was there, the youngest in front, the princes of Judah in bright-coloured robes, the princesof Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.	27 For they persecuted whomever you struck. And they have added to the grief of my wounds.
28 Take command, my God, as befits your power, the power, God, which you have wielded for us,	28 Assign an iniquity upon their iniquity, and may they not enter into your justice.
29 from your temple high above Jerusalem. Kings wil come to you bearing tribute.	29 Delete them from the Book of the Living, and let them not be written down with the just.
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 I am poor and sorrowful, but your salvation, O God, has taken me up.
31 From Egypt nobles wil come, Ethiopia wil stretch out its hands to God.	31 I will praise the name of God with a canticle, and I will magnify him with praise.
32 Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, play for	32 And it will please God more than a new calf producing horns and hoofs.
33 the Rider of the Heavens, the primeval heavens.Pause There he speaks, with a voice of power!	33 Let the poor see and rejoice. Seek God, and your soul will live.
34 Acknowledge the power of God. Over Israel his splendour, in the clouds his power.	34 For the Lord has heard the poor, and he has not despised his prisoners.
35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary. He, the God of Israel, gives strength and power to his people.Blessed be God.	35 Let the heavens and the earth praise him: the sea, and everything that crawls in it.
	36 For God will save Zion, and the cities of Judah will be built up. And they will dwell there, and they will acquire it by inheritance.
	37 And the offspring of his servants will possess it; and those who love his name will dwell in it.