Psalm 68:1-35, NLT

Psalm 68

For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

1Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.

Let those who hate God run for their lives.

2Blow them away like smoke.

Melt them like wax in a fire.

Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.

3But let the godly rejoice.

Let them be glad in God’s presence.

Let them be filled with joy.

4Sing praises to God and to his name!

Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.*68:4 Or rides through the deserts.

His name is the Lord—

rejoice in his presence!

5Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—

this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

6God places the lonely in families;

he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.

But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

7O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,

when you marched through the dry wasteland,

Interlude

8the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain

before you, the God of Sinai,

before God, the God of Israel.

9You sent abundant rain, O God,

to refresh the weary land.

10There your people finally settled,

and with a bountiful harvest, O God,

you provided for your needy people.

11The Lord gives the word,

and a great army*68:11 Or a host of women. brings the good news.

12Enemy kings and their armies flee,

while the women of Israel divide the plunder.

13Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—

doves with wings of silver

and feathers of gold.

14The Almighty scattered the enemy kings

like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

15The mountains of Bashan are majestic,

with many peaks stretching high into the sky.

16Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,

at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,

where the Lord himself will live forever?

17Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,

the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.

18When you ascended to the heights,

you led a crowd of captives.

You received gifts from the people,

even from those who rebelled against you.

Now the Lord God will live among us there.

19Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!

For each day he carries us in his arms.

Interlude

20Our God is a God who saves!

The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

21But God will smash the heads of his enemies,

crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.

22The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;

I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.

23You, my people, will wash*68:23 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads shatter. your feet in their blood,

and even your dogs will get their share!”

24Your procession has come into view, O God—

the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.

25Singers are in front, musicians behind;

between them are young women playing tambourines.

26Praise God, all you people of Israel;

praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.

27Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.

Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah

and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

28Summon your might, O God.*68:28 As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions; most Hebrew manuscripts read Your God has commanded your strength.

Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.

29The kings of the earth are bringing tribute

to your Temple in Jerusalem.

30Rebuke these enemy nations—

these wild animals lurking in the reeds,

this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.

Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.

Scatter the nations that delight in war.

31Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals*68:31a Or of rich cloth.;

let Ethiopia*68:31b Hebrew Cush. bring tribute to God.

32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.

Sing praises to the Lord.

Interlude

33Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,

his mighty voice thundering from the sky.

34Tell everyone about God’s power.

His majesty shines down on Israel;

his strength is mighty in the heavens.

35God is awesome in his sanctuary.

The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

Psalms 68:1-35