Psalm 68
God shall arise, and his enemies shall be scattered
: those that hate him shall flee before his face.
As smoke is dispersed, so shall they be dispersed
: as wax melts before a fire,
so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God.
But the righteous shall be glad and exult before God
: they shall rejoice with gladness.
O sing to God, sing praises to his name
: glorify him that rode through the deserts,
him whose name is the Lord, and exult before him.
He is the father of the fatherless,
he upholds the cause of the widow
: God in his holy dwelling place.
He gives the desolate a home to dwell in,
and brings the prisoners out into prosperity
: but rebels must dwell in a barren land.
O God, when you went out before your people
: when you marched through the wilderness,
The earth shook, the heavens poured down water
: before the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
You showered down a generous rain, O God
: you prepared the land of your possession when it was weary.
And there your people settled
: in the place that your goodness, O God,
had made ready for the poor.
The Lord spoke the word, and great was the company
of those that carried the tidings
: ‘Kings with their armies are fleeing, are fleeing away.
‘Even the women at home may share in the spoil
: and will you sit idly among the sheepfolds?
‘There are images of doves whose wings are covered with silver
: and their pinions with shining gold.’
When the Almighty scattered kings
: they were like snow falling upon Mount Zalmon.
The mountain of Bashan is a mighty mountain
: the mountain of Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.
O mountains of many peaks, why look so enviously
: at the mountain where God is pleased to dwell,
where the Lord will remain for ever?
The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
and thousands upon thousands
: the Lord came from Sinai into his holy place.
When you ascended the heights,
you led the enemy captive, you received tribute from men
: but rebels shall not dwell in the presence of God.
Blessed be the Lord day by day, who bears us as his burden
: he is the God of our deliverance.
God is to us a God who saves
: by God the Lord do we escape death.
[But God shall smite the heads of his enemies
: the hairy scalp of those that walk in their sins.
The Lord said ‘I will bring them back from Bashan
: I will bring them again from the deep sea’;
That you may dip your feet in blood
: and the tongues of your dogs in the blood of your enemies.]
Your procession is seen, O God
: the procession of my God and King in the sanctuary.
The singers go before, the musicians come after
: and around them the maidens beating on the timbrels.
In their choirs they bless God
: those that are sprung from the fount of Israel bless the Lord.
There is the little tribe of Benjamin leading them
: the throng of the princes of Judah,
the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.
Give the command, my God, in accordance with your power
: that godlike power whereby you act for us.
Give the command from your temple at Jerusalem
: and kings shall bring you tribute.
Rebuke the beast of the reeds,
the herd of bulls amidst the brutish peoples
: tread down those that are greedy for silver,
scatter the peoples that relish war.
Let them bring bronze from Egypt
: let the hands of the Nubians carry it swiftly to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth
: O sing praises to the Lord,
To him that rides upon the highest heavens,
that were from the beginning
: who utters his voice, which is a mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel
: and his might is in the clouds.
Terrible is God who comes from his holy place
: the God of Israel who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God.