PSALM 68
A Psalm of David
God is already beginning to arise, and His enemies to scatter;
let them also who hate Him flee before Him!
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before
the fire, so let the wicked perish before the presence of God.
But let the uncompromisingly righteous be glad; let them be in
high spirits and glory before God, yes, let them jubilantly rejoice!
Sing to God, sing praises to His name, cast up a highway for Him Who rides
through the deserts-His name is the Lord-be in high spirits and glory before Him!
A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows
is God in His holy habitation.
God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell;
He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
O God when You went forth before Your people, when You marched
through the wilderness-Selah, pause, and calmly think of that!
The earth trembled, the heavens also poured down rain at the presence of God;
yonder Sinai quaked at the presence of God; the God of Israel.
You, O God, did send a plentiful rain; You did restore and confirm
Your heritage when it languished and was weary.
Your flock found a dwelling place in it; You, O God, in Your goodness
did provide for the poor and needy.
The Lord gives the word of power; the women who bear and
publish the news are a great host.
The kings of the enemies' armies, they flee, they flee!
She who tarries at home divides the spoil left behind.
Though you the slackers may lie among the sheepfolds in slothful ease,
yet for Israel the wings of a dove are covered with silver, its pinions
excessively green with gold are trophies taken from the enemy.
When the Almighty scattered kings in the land, it was as when it
snows on Zalmon, a wooded hill near Shechem.
Is Mount Bashan the high mountain of summits, Mount Bashan,
east of the Jordan, the mount of God?
Why do you look with grudging and envy, you many-peaked mountains,
at the mountain of the city called Zion, which God has desired for
His dwelling place? Yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands.
The Lord is among them as He was in Sinai, so also in the Holy Place,
the sanctuary in Jerusalem.
You have ascended on high, You have led away captive a train of
vanquished foes; You have received gifts of men, yes, of the rebellious
also, that the Lord God might dwell there with them.
Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day,
even the God Who is our salvation! Selah pause, and calmly think of that!
God is to us a God of deliverances and salvation; and to God the Lord
belongs escape from death, setting us free.
But God will shatter the heads of His enemies, the hairy scalp of
such a one as goes on still in his trespasses and guilty ways.
The Lord said, I will bring back your enemies from Bashan;
I will bring them back from the depths of the Red Sea.
That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the foe.
They see Your goings, O God, even the solemn processions of my God,
my King, into the sanctuary in holiness.
The singers go in front, the players on instruments last;
between them the maidens playing on tambourines.
Bless, give thanks, and gratefully praise God in full congregations,
even the Lord, O you who are from Jacob, the fountain of Israel.
There is little Benjamin in the lead in the procession, the princes of Judah
and their company, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
Your God has commanded your strength, your might in His service and
impenetrable hardness to temptation; O God, display Your might and
strengthen what You have wrought for us!
Out of respect for Your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bring gifts to You.
Rebuke the wild beasts dwelling among the reeds in Egypt, the herd of bulls,
the leaders, with the calves of the peoples; trample under foot those who
lust for tribute money; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out
her hands with offerings of submission to God.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord!
Selah pause, and calmly think of that!
Sing praises to Him Who rides upon the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, He sends forth His voice, His mighty voice.
Ascribe power and strength to God; His majesty is over Israel, and
His strength and might are in the skies.
O God, awe-inspiring, profoundly impressive, and terrible are You
out of Your holy places; the God of Israel Himself gives strength
and fullness of might to His people. Blessed be God!
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