BibleStudyIt Psalm 68
- Psalm Chapter 68
68 God will rise up
and he will chase his enemies away!
The people who hate him
will quickly run away from him! [ b ]
2 God, blow them away,
as wind blows smoke away.
Destroy those wicked people,
as wax melts near a fire!
3 But righteous people will be happy,
when they come near to you.
They will shout with joy,
because they are so happy!
4 Sing songs to God!
Sing to praise his name!
He is the one who rides on the clouds,
so praise him aloud!
His name is the Lord !
Shout with joy to worship him!
5 God is a father for those who have no father.
He takes care of widows.
He rules from his holy home.
6 God gives homes and a family to lonely people.
He makes prisoners go free
so that they are happy.
But people who turn against him
have to live in a hot, dry land. [ c ]
7 God, you led your people out.
You took them across the desert.
Selah.
8 Then the ground shook,
and rain poured down from the sky.
You showed your power at Sinai mountain.
You are the God who rules at Sinai. [ d ]
You are the God that Israel's people serve.
9 God, you caused much rain to fall
on your special land.
You made it fresh again
when it had been dry. [ e ]
10 Your own people came to live in it.
God, because you are kind,
you gave many good things to poor people.
11 The Lord gives a command!
Very many women take his message to other places.
12 Kings with large armies quickly run away.
Yes, they run away!
The women at home share the valuable things
that the armies have left behind.
13 Even those who stayed to take care of the sheep
found valuable things,
like a dove with silver wings
and bright gold feathers. [ f ]
14 When the Almighty God chased away foreign kings,
it was like snow that fell on Mount Zalmon.
15 Bashan mountain is great, like God.
It has many high rocks.
16 You high mountains, why are you jealous
when you look at Zion mountain?
That is the mountain where God has chosen to live.
Yes, that is where the Lord will live for ever!
17 God has millions of chariots.
The Lord has come from Sinai mountain
to his own holy place.
18 When you went up to the highest place,
you took many prisoners with you.
You received gifts from men,
even from the men who had fought against you.
Yes, the Lord God lives there!
19 Praise the Lord, as he deserves!
Every day he helps us with our troubles.
He is the God who keeps us safe!
Selah.
20 Our God is the God who rescues people.
The Almighty Lord saves us from death.
21 He will knock down the heads of his enemies.
He will destroy their skulls and their long hair,
if they continue to turn against him.
22 The Lord says, ‘I will bring my enemies back from Bashan,
even from deep down in the sea.
23 Then you can wash your feet in their blood.
Your dogs can have as much as they want!’ [ g ]
24 God, you are my God and my King.
People will see the great crowd that goes with you,
as you go to your holy temple.
25 The singers will march in front.
The musicians will follow them.
Young women will be with them
as they beat their tambourines.
26 They all sing,
‘Praise God, all you crowd of people!
All you people of Israel,
praise the Lord !’
27 Benjamin, the smallest tribe, will lead them all.
The leaders of Judah, with their big group, will follow.
Then will come the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali. [ h ]
28 God has commanded that you should be strong.
God, please show again how strong you are,
as you have used your strength to help us in past times.
29 As you live in your temple in Jerusalem,
kings will bring gifts to you.
30 Speak against your enemies!
Some are like wild animals that live in the reeds. [ i ]
Some are proud nations,
like bulls among their young cows.
They must be humble and offer to you
gifts of valuable silver things.
Chase away those nations that like to fight wars.
31 Egypt's leaders will come with gifts.
People will come from Cush
and they will agree to serve God. [ j ]
32 All you kingdoms of the earth,
sing to God!
Yes, sing to praise the Lord!
Selah.
33 He is the one who rides in the sky,
as he has done from the beginning of time.
Listen! He shouts with a powerful voice.
34 Agree that God is very powerful!
He is the King who rules over Israel.
He shows his power in the skies.
35 God, how great you are,
as you come from your holy temple!
He is the God of Israel.
He gives power to his people,
and he makes them strong.
Praise God as he deserves!
68 God, get up and scatter your enemies!
May all your enemies run from you.
2 May your enemies be scattered
like smoke blown away by the wind.
May your enemies be destroyed
like wax melting in a fire.
3 But let good people be happy.
Let them gather before God and enjoy themselves together.
4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!
Prepare the way for the one who rides on the clouds.
His name is Yah . [ a ]
Worship before him with joy.
5 God, who lives in his holy palace, is a father to orphans,
and he takes care of widows.
6 God provides homes for those who are lonely.
He frees people from prison and makes them happy.
But those who turn against him will live in the desert.
7 God, you led your people out of Egypt.
You marched across the desert. Selah
8 The ground shook and rain poured from the sky
when God, the God of Israel, came to Sinai.
9 God, you sent the rain
to make a tired, old land strong again.
10 Your people [ b ] came back to live there,
and you provided good things for the poor.
11 My Lord gave the command,
and many people went to tell the good news:
12 “The armies of powerful kings ran away!
At home, the women divide the things brought from the battle.
13 Those who stayed home will share in the wealth—
metal doves with wings covered in silver and feathers sparkling with gold.”
14 God All-Powerful scattered the kings
like snow falling on Mount Zalmon.
15 Mount Bashan is a great mountain
with many high peaks.
16 But, Bashan, why are you jealous of Mount Zion?
That is where God has chosen to live.
The Lord will live there forever.
17 With his millions of chariots,
the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place.
18 You went up to your high place,
leading a parade of captives.
You received gifts from people, [ c ]
even those who turned against you.
The Lord God went up there to live.
19 Praise the Lord!
Every day he helps us with the loads we must carry.
He is the God who saves us. Selah
20 He is our God, the God who saves us.
My Lord God saves us from death.
21 God will smash the heads of his enemies.
He will punish those who fight against him. [ d ]
22 My Lord said, “If they run up to Bashan or down to the depths of the sea,
I will bring them back.
23 So you will march through pools of their blood,
and there will be plenty left for your dogs.”
24 God, everyone can see your victory parade—
the victory march of my God and King into his holy place! [ e ]
25 Singers come marching in front, followed by the musicians;
they are surrounded by young girls playing tambourines.
26 Praise God in the meeting place. [ f ]
Praise the Lord , people of Israel!
27 There is the smallest tribe, Benjamin, leading them.
And there comes a large group of leaders from Judah.
Following them are the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28 God, show us your power!
Show us the power you used for us in the past.
29 Kings will bring their wealth to you,
to your Temple in Jerusalem.
30 Punish the people in Egypt.
They are like cattle in the marshes, like bulls among the calves.
You humiliated them.
You scattered them in war.
Now let them come crawling to you,
bringing their pieces of silver.
31 Messengers from Egypt will come bearing gifts.
Ethiopia will offer God their tribute.
32 Kings on earth, sing to God!
Sing songs of praise to our Lord! Selah
33 Sing to him who rides his chariot through the ancient skies.
Listen to his powerful voice!
34 Tell everyone how powerful he is!
He rules over Israel.
His power fills the skies.
35 God, you are awesome in your Temple!
The God of Israel is the one who gives strength and power to his people.
Praise God!
68 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah , and rejoice before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
24 They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
68 [ a ] May ( A ) God arise, [ b ] may His enemies be scattered,
And [ c ] may those who hate Him flee from His presence.
2 As ( B ) smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As ( C ) wax melts before a fire,
So the ( D ) wicked will perish before God.
3 But the ( E ) righteous will be joyful; they will rejoice before God;
Yes, they will rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God, ( F ) sing praises to His name;
[ d ] ( G ) Exalt Him who ( H ) rides through the deserts,
Whose ( I ) name is [ e ] the Lord , and be jubilant before Him.
5 A ( J ) father of the fatherless and a ( K ) judge [ f ] for the widows,
Is God in His ( L ) holy dwelling.
6 God [ g ] ( M ) makes a home for the lonely;
He ( N ) leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only ( O ) the rebellious live in parched lands.
7 God, when You ( P ) went forth before Your people,
When You ( Q ) marched through the desert, Selah
8 The ( R ) earth quaked;
The ( S ) heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
[ h ] ( T ) Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You ( U ) made plentiful rain fall, God;
You confirmed Your inheritance when it was [ i ] parched.
10 Your creatures settled in it;
In Your kindness You ( V ) provided for the poor, God.
11 The Lord gives the [ j ] command;
The ( W ) women who proclaim good news are a great army:
12 “ ( X ) Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home will ( Y ) divide the spoils!”
13 [ k ] When you lie down ( Z ) among the sheepfolds,
You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And its pinions with [ l ] glistening gold.
14 When the Almighty ( AA ) scattered the kings [ m ] there,
It was snowing in ( AB ) Zalmon.
15 ( AC ) The mountain of Bashan is a [ n ] mountain of God;
The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.
16 Why do you look with envy, you mountains of many peaks,
At the mountain God has ( AD ) desired as His dwelling?
Indeed, ( AE ) the Lord will dwell there forever.
17 The ( AF ) chariots of God are [ o ] myriads, ( AG ) thousands upon thousands;
[ p ] The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
18 You have ( AH ) ascended on high, You have ( AI ) led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among people,
Even among the rebellious as well, that [ q ] the Lord God may dwell there .
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily ( AJ ) bears our burden,
( AK ) The God who is our salvation. Selah
20 God is to us a ( AL ) God of salvation;
And ( AM ) to [ r ] God the Lord belong ways of escape [ s ] from death.
21 God certainly will ( AN ) shatter the heads of His enemies,
The hairy [ t ] head of one who goes about in his guilt.
22 The Lord [ u ] said, “ ( AO ) I will bring them back from Bashan.
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 So that [ v ] ( AP ) your foot may shatter them in blood,
And the tongue of your ( AQ ) dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”
24 They have seen ( AR ) Your procession, God,
The procession of my God, my King, [ w ] ( AS ) into the sanctuary.
25 The ( AT ) singers went on, the musicians after them ,
[ x ] In the midst of the ( AU ) young women beating tambourines.
26 ( AV ) Bless God in the congregations,
Even the Lord , you who are of the ( AW ) fountain of Israel.
27 ( AX ) Benjamin, the [ y ] youngest, is there, [ z ] ruling them,
The leaders of Judah in their company,
The leaders of ( AY ) Zebulun, the leaders of Naphtali.
28 [ aa ] Your God has ( AZ ) commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, God, You ( BA ) who acted [ ab ] in our behalf.
29 [ ac ] Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
( BB ) Kings will bring gifts to You.
30 Rebuke the ( BC ) animals [ ad ] in the reeds,
The herd of ( BD ) bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling the pieces of silver;
He has ( BE ) scattered the peoples who delight in war.
31 [ ae ] Messengers will come from ( BF ) Egypt;
[ af ] ( BG ) Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, you ( BH ) kingdoms of the earth,
( BI ) Sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 To Him who ( BJ ) rides upon the [ ag ] ( BK ) highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, ( BL ) He [ ah ] speaks with His voice, a ( BM ) mighty voice.
34 ( BN ) Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel,
And ( BO ) His strength is in the [ ai ] skies.
35 [ aj ] God, You are ( BP ) awesome from Your [ ak ] sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself ( BQ ) gives strength and power to the people.
( BR ) Blessed be God!
1 May God arise, ( A ) may his enemies be scattered; ( B )
may his foes flee ( C ) before him.
2 May you blow them away like smoke— ( D )
as wax melts ( E ) before the fire,
may the wicked perish ( F ) before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice ( G ) before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, ( H )
extol him who rides on the clouds [ b ] ( I ) ;
rejoice before him—his name is the Lord . ( J )
5 A father to the fatherless, ( K ) a defender of widows, ( L )
is God in his holy dwelling. ( M )
6 God sets the lonely ( N ) in families, [ c ] ( O )
he leads out the prisoners ( P ) with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. ( Q )
7 When you, God, went out ( R ) before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, [ d ] ( S )
8 the earth shook, ( T ) the heavens poured down rain, ( U )
before God, the One of Sinai, ( V )
before God, the God of Israel. ( W )
9 You gave abundant showers, ( X ) O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it,
and from your bounty, ( Y ) God, you provided ( Z ) for the poor.
11 The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng: ( AA )
12 “Kings and armies flee ( AB ) in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder. ( AC )
13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens, [ e ] ( AD )
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty [ f ] scattered ( AE ) the kings in the land,
it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon. ( AF )
15 Mount Bashan, ( AG ) majestic mountain, ( AH )
Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
at the mountain where God chooses ( AI ) to reign,
where the Lord himself will dwell forever? ( AJ )
17 The chariots ( AK ) of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands; ( AL )
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. [ g ]
18 When you ascended ( AM ) on high, ( AN )
you took many captives; ( AO )
you received gifts from people, ( AP )
even from [ h ] the rebellious ( AQ ) —
that you, [ i ] Lord God, might dwell there.
19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, ( AR )
who daily bears our burdens. ( AS )
20 Our God is a God who saves; ( AT )
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. ( AU )
21 Surely God will crush the heads ( AV ) of his enemies,
the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
22 The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;
I will bring them from the depths of the sea, ( AW )
23 that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes, ( AX )
while the tongues of your dogs ( AY ) have their share.”
24 Your procession, God, has come into view,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. ( AZ )
25 In front are the singers, ( BA ) after them the musicians; ( BB )
with them are the young women playing the timbrels. ( BC )
26 Praise God in the great congregation; ( BD )
praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel. ( BE )
27 There is the little tribe ( BF ) of Benjamin, ( BG ) leading them,
there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali. ( BH )
28 Summon your power, ( BI ) God [ j ] ;
show us your strength, ( BJ ) our God, as you have done ( BK ) before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts. ( BL )
30 Rebuke the beast ( BM ) among the reeds, ( BN )
the herd of bulls ( BO ) among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nations ( BP ) who delight in war. ( BQ )
31 Envoys will come from Egypt; ( BR )
Cush [ k ] ( BS ) will submit herself to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, ( BT )
sing praise ( BU ) to the Lord,
33 to him who rides ( BV ) across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
who thunders ( BW ) with mighty voice. ( BX )
34 Proclaim the power ( BY ) of God,
whose majesty ( BZ ) is over Israel,
whose power is in the heavens.
35 You, God, are awesome ( CA ) in your sanctuary; ( CB )
the God of Israel gives power and strength ( CC ) to his people. ( CD )
Praise be to God! ( CE )