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Psalm 48

The Glory and Strength of Zion

A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites.
¹ Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
   in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, ²beautiful in elevation,
   is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
   the city of the great King.
³ Within its citadels God
   has shown himself a sure defence.

⁴ Then the kings assembled,
   they came on together.
⁵ As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
   they were in panic, they took to flight;
⁶ trembling took hold of them there,
   pains as of a woman in labour,
⁷ as when an east wind shatters
   the ships of Tarshish.
⁸ As we have heard, so have we seen
   in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
   which God establishes for ever.
          Selah

⁹ We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
   in the midst of your temple.
¹⁰ Your name, O God, like your praise,
   reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with victory.
¹¹   Let Mount Zion be glad,
let the towns^* of Judah rejoice
   because of your judgements.

¹² Walk about Zion, go all around it,
   count its towers,
¹³ consider well its ramparts;
   go through its citadels,
that you may tell the next generation
¹⁴   that this is God,
our God for ever and ever.
   He will be our guide for ever.

Psalm 87

The Joy of Living in Zion

Of the Korahites. A Psalm. A Song.
¹ On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
²   the Lord loves the gates of Zion
   more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
³ Glorious things are spoken of you,
   O city of God.
          Selah

⁴ Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
   Philistia too, and Tyre, with Ethiopia^*—
   ‘This one was born there,’ they say.

⁵ And of Zion it shall be said,
   ‘This one and that one were born in it’;
   for the Most High himself will establish it.
⁶ The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
   ‘This one was born there.’
          Selah

⁷ Singers and dancers alike say,
   ‘All my springs are in you.’