Psalm 68

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

1Let God rise up; let his enemies be scattered, and let those who hate him flee before him.

2As smoke is blown away, blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.

3But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; let them celebrate with joy.

4Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts—Yah is his name—and rejoice before him.

5A father to the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling.

6God gives the lonely a home to live in; he leads prisoners out into prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.

7God, you went out before your people; you marched through the wasteland. Selah.

8The earth shook; the heavens poured down rain before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

9You sent a generous rain, God; you restored your inheritance when it was weary.

10Your flock settled in it; in your goodness, God, you provided for the poor.

11The Lord gives the word; the women who proclaim the news are a great army:

12“Kings of armies flee, they flee!” She who stays at home divides the spoil.

13Even while you lie among the sheepfolds, the wings of a dove are covered with silver, its feathers with shimmering gold.

14When the Almighty scattered kings there, it snowed on Zalmon.

15A mountain of God is Mount Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.

16Why do you look with envy, you many-peaked mountains, at the mountain God has desired for his dwelling? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever.

17The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is in the sanctuary.

18You ascended on high; you led captives away; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious, so that Yah God might dwell there.

19Blessed be the Lord, who carries us day after day, the God who is our salvation. Selah.

20Our God is a God who saves, and to Yahweh the Lord belong ways of escape from death.

21Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy scalp of the one who goes on in his guilty ways.

22The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

23so that you may crush them, your feet in blood, and the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the enemies.”

24Your processions are seen, God, the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

25The singers go in front, the musicians behind, with young women playing tambourines between them.

26Bless God in the assemblies; bless Yahweh, you who come from the fountain of Israel.

27There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28Your God has commanded your strength; show your strength, God, you who have acted for us.

29Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring gifts to you.

30Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, until they bow down with pieces of silver; scatter the peoples who delight in war.

31Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will hurry to stretch out her hands to God.

32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord. Selah.

33Sing to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens. Listen, he thunders with his voice, a mighty voice.

34Acknowledge the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel and whose power is in the skies.

35You are awesome, God, from your sanctuary; the God of Israel himself gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God!