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,
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.