Psalm 68

God’s Majestic Power

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

God arises. His enemies scatter,

and those who hate him flee from his presence.a

2As smoke is blown away,

so you blow them away.

As wax melts before the fire,

so the wicked are destroyed before God.a

3But the righteous are glad;

they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy.a

4Sing to God! Sing praises to his name.

Exalt him who rides on the cloudsA — 

his name is the LordB — and celebrate before him.a

5God in his holy dwelling is

a father of the fatherless

and a champion of widows.a

6God provides homes for those who are deserted.

He leads out the prisoners to prosperity,A

but the rebellious live in a scorched land.a

7God, when you went out before your people,

when you marched through the desert,

Selah

8the earth trembled and the skies poured rain

before God, the God of Sinai,A

before God, the God of Israel.a

9You, God, showered abundant rain;

you revived your inheritance when it languished.a

10Your people settled in it;

God, you provided for the poor by your goodness.a

11The Lord gave the command;

a great company of women brought the good news:a

12“The kings of the armies flee — they flee! ”

She who stays at home divides the spoil.a

13WhileA you lie among the sheep pens,B

the wings of a dove are covered with silver,

and its feathers with glistening gold.a

14When the Almighty scattered kings in the land,

it snowed on Zalmon.a a

15Mount Bashan is God’s towering mountain;

Mount Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.a

16Why gaze with envy, you mountain peaks,

at the mountain God desired for his abode?

The Lord will dwell there forever!a

17God’s chariots are tens of thousands,

thousands and thousands;a

the Lord is among them in the sanctuaryA

as he was at Sinai.b

18You ascended to the heights, taking away captives;

you received gifts fromA people,

even from the rebellious,

so that the Lord God might dwell there.B a

19Blessed be the Lord!

Day after day he bears our burdens;

God is our salvation.a

Selah

20Our God is a God of salvation,

and escape from death belongs to the Lord my Lord.a

21Surely God crushes the heads of his enemies,

the hairy brow of one who goes on in his guilty acts.a

22The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan;

I will bring them back from the depths of the seaa

23so that your foot may wadeA in blood

and your dogs’ tongues may have their share

from the enemies.”a

24People have seen your procession, God,

the procession of my God,

my King, in the sanctuary.a

25Singers lead the way,

with musicians following;

among them are young women

playing tambourines.a

26Bless God in the assemblies;

bless the Lord from the fountain of Israel.a

27There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them,

the rulers of Judah in their assembly,A

the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali.a

28Your God has decreed your strength.

Show your strength, God,

you who have acted on our behalf.a

29Because of your temple at Jerusalem,

kings will bring tribute to you.a

30Rebuke the beast in the reeds,

the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.a

Trample underfoot those with bars of silver.A

Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war.b

31Ambassadors will comeA from Egypt;

Cush will stretch out its hands to God.a

32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;

sing praise to the Lord,a

Selah

33to him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens.a

Look, he thunders with his powerful voice!b

34Ascribe power to God.

His majesty is over Israel;

his power is among the clouds.a

35God, you are awe-inspiring in your sanctuaries.

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

Blessed be God!a