Psalms 68
Open in the reader1Unto the End. A Psalm of Beloved. A Song.
2God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence.
3As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.
4But the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy.
5Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds — His name is the He-Who-Is— and rejoice before Him.
6A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His devoted habitation.
7God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
8O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland, Selah
9the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Strives-with-God.
10You sent abundant rain, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance.
11Your flock settled therein; O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor.
12The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:
13“Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.
14Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.”
15When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like the snow falling on Shady-One.
16A mountain of God is Mount Fertile-Plain; a mountain of many peaks is Mount Fertile-Plain.
17Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling, where He-Who-Is will surely dwell forever.
18The chariots of God are tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
19You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the He-Who-Is God may dwell there.
20Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation. Selah
21Our He-Who-Is is a He-Who-Is of deliverance; the Lord He-Who-Is is our rescuer from death.
22Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.
23The Lord said, “I will retrieve them from Fertile-Plain, I will bring them up from the depths of the Sea,
24that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes— the tongues of your dogs in the same.”
25They have seen Your procession, O God— the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.
26The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.
27Bless God in the great congregation; bless He-Who-Is from the fountain of Strives-with-God.
28There is Son-of-the-Right-Hand, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Praised in their company, the princes of Dwelling and of My-Wrestling.
29Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.
30Because of Your temple at Foundation-of-Peace kings will bring You gifts.
31Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, until it submits, bringing bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
32Envoys will arrive from Two-Straits; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.
33Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord— Selah
34to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.
35Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Strives-with-God, whose strength is in the skies.
36O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Strives-with-God Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!