Psalm 68
God’s Majestic Power
For the choir director. A psalm of David. A song.
1God arises. His enemies scatter,
2As smoke is blown away,
so you blow them away.
As wax melts before the fire,
3But the righteous are glad;
4Sing to God! Sing praises to his name.
Exalt him who rides on the clouds68:4 Or rides through the desert —
5God in his holy dwelling is
a father of the fatherless
6God provides homes for those who are deserted.
He leads out the prisoners to prosperity,68:6 Or prisoners with joyous music; Hb uncertain
7God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the desert,Selah
8the earth trembled and the skies poured rain
before God, the God of Sinai,68:8 Or God, this one of Sinai
before God, the God of Israel.68:7–8 Ex 19:16–18; Jdg 5:4–5
9You, God, showered abundant rain;
10Your people settled in it;
11The Lord gave the command;
a great company of women brought the good news:68:11 1Sm 18:6–7
12“The kings of the armies flee — they flee!”
13While68:13 Or If you lie among the sheep pens,68:13 Or the campfires, or the saddlebags; Hb obscure
the wings of a dove are covered with silver,
14When the Almighty scattered kings in the land,
15Mount Bashan is God’s towering mountain;
Mount Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.68:15 Ps 36:6
16Why gaze with envy, you mountain peaks,
at the mountain God desired for his abode?
17God’s chariots are tens of thousands,
thousands and thousands;68:17 Hab 3:8
the Lord is among them in the sanctuary68:17 Or in holiness, also in v. 24
as he was at Sinai.68:17 Dt 33:2
18You ascended to the heights, taking away captives;
you received gifts from68:18 Lit among people,
even from the rebellious,
so that the Lord God might dwell there.68:18 Or even those rebelling against the Lord God’s living there; Hb obscure68:18 Dt 21:10; Ps 7:7; Eph 4:8
19Blessed be the Lord!
Day after day he bears our burdens;
20Our God is a God of salvation,
21Surely God crushes the heads of his enemies,
22The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan;
23so that your foot may wade68:23 LXX, Syr read dip in blood
and your dogs’ tongues may have their share
24People have seen your procession, God,
the procession of my God,
25Singers lead the way,
with musicians following;
among them are young women
26Bless God in the assemblies;
27There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them,
the rulers of Judah in their assembly,68:27 Hb obscure
28Your God has decreed your strength.
Show your strength, God,
29Because of your temple at Jerusalem,
30Rebuke the beast in the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.68:30 Ps 22:12
Trample underfoot those with bars of silver.68:30 Or peoples, trampling on those who take pleasure in silver, or peoples, trampling on the bars of silver, or peoples, who trample each other for bars of silver
31Ambassadors will come68:31 Or They bring red cloth, or They bring bronze from Egypt;
32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;
34Ascribe power to God.
His majesty is over Israel;
35God, you are awe-inspiring in your sanctuaries.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
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