Psalms 68 — FBV

For the music director. A psalm of David. A song.

68Verse 1Stand up, God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate him run away from him!
^{Verse 2}Blow them away as if they were smoke; melt them like beeswax in a fire. Let the wicked die in God's presence.
^{Verse 3}But those who are right with God are happy, and they celebrate in God's presence, full of joy.
^{Verse 4}Sing praises to God! Sing praises to his wonderful reputation!⁺Praise the rider of the clouds—his name is the Lord!⁺Be happy in his presence!
^{Verse 5}He is a father to the orphans, a protector of widows. This is who God is, who lives in his holy place.^{+
Verse 6}God gives those who are abandoned⁺a family to live with. He sets prisoners free with celebration.⁺But those who rebel live in a desert wasteland.
^{Verse 7}God, when you led your people out,⁺when you marched through the desert, Selah,
^{Verse 8}the earth quaked, and the heavens shook⁺before God, the one of Sinai; before God, the God of Israel.
^{Verse 9}You sent plenty of rain to water the promised land; refreshing it when it was dry.^{+
Verse 10}Your people settled there, and because of your kindness, God, you looked after the poor. Selah.
^{Verse 11}The Lord gives the command, and a great army of women spread the good news.
^{Verse 12}The kings of the foreign armies are quick to run away, and the women⁺who stayed at home divide the plunder!
^{Verse 13}Why are you staying at home?⁺There are ornaments in the shape of a dove with wings of silver and feathers of fine gold to be taken.^{+
Verse 14}The Almighty scattered the foreign kings like a snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
^{Verse 15}“Mountain of God,” Mount Bashan, with your many high peaks, Mount Bashan,
^{Verse 16}why do you look enviously, mountain with many peaks, at the mountain God chose as his home, where the Lord will live forever?^{+
Verse 17}God's chariots can't be counted; there are thousands and thousands of them. He comes among them from Sinai into his Temple.
^{Verse 18}As you ascended to your high throne you led a procession of prisoners. You received gifts from the people, even from those who had rebelled against the home of the Lord God.
^{Verse 19}May the Lord be blessed, for every day he carries our burdens.⁺God is our salvation. Selah.
^{Verse 20}For us, God is a God who saves. The Lord God provides our escape from death.
^{Verse 21}But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy heads⁺of those who continue to sin.
^{Verse 22}The Lord says, “I will drag them down from Bashan; I will drag them up from the depths of the sea,
^{Verse 23}so that you may walk in their blood. Even your dogs will have their share of your enemies.”
^{Verse 24}People watch your processions, God—the processions of my God and King as they go into the Temple.
^{Verse 25}The singers are at the front, the musicians at the back, and in the middle girls playing tambourines.
^{Verse 26}Praise God, everyone who has come to worship; praise the Lord, everyone who belongs to Israel.
^{Verse 27}There is the little tribe of Benjamin, followed by the many leaders from Judah; then come the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
^{Verse 28}Display your power, God! Reveal your strength, Lord, as you have done for us in the past.
^{Verse 29}Because of your Temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you.
^{Verse 30}Condemn the beasts of the reeds, the bulls and calves!⁺May they be humbled and bring bars of silver in tribute! Scatter the war-loving nations!
^{Verse 31}Let Egypt come with bronze gifts;⁺let Ethiopia come quickly and hand over their tributes to God!
^{Verse 32}Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord. Selah.
^{Verse 33}Sing to the rider of the ancient heavens,⁺his strong voice sounding like thunder!
^{Verse 34}Let everyone know of God's power: how his majesty extends over Israel, how his strength is revealed in the heavens.^{+
Verse 35}How awesome is God in his Temple! The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people! Praise God!