Psalms 68

God's Enemies Are Scattered

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm Of David. A Song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence. 2 As smoke is blown away, You will drive [them] out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God. 3 But the righteous will be glad [and] rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy. 4 Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt the One who rides on the clouds— His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him. 5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, [is] God in His holy habitation. 6 God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners {out} to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched [land] . 7 O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland, Selah 8 the earth shook and the heavens poured down [rain] before God, the One [on] Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. 9 You sent abundant rain, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance. 10 Your flock settled therein; O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor. 11 The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim [it] : 12 “Kings [and their] armies flee in haste; she who waits at home will divide the plunder. 13 Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.” 14 When the Almighty ▼

▼Hebrew Shaddai

scattered the kings in [the land] it was like the snow falling on Zalmon. 15 A mountain of God [is] the hill of Bashan; a mount of many peaks [is] Mount Bashan. 16 Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks? [This is] the mountain God chose for [His] dwelling, where the LORD will surely dwell forever. 17 The chariots of God [are] tens of thousands— thousands of thousands [are they] ; the Lord [is] in His sanctuary [as He was at] Sinai. ▼

▼Or the Lord has come from Sinai in His holiness

18 You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even [from] the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell [there] . 19 Blessed [be] the Lord, [who] daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation. Selah 20 Our God [is] a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD [is our] rescuer from death. 21 Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways. 22 The Lord said, “I will retrieve [them] from Bashan, I will bring [them] up from the depths of the sea, 23 that your foot may be dipped in the blood of [your] foes, the tongues of your dogs in [the same] .” 24 They have seen Your procession, O God— the march of my God [and] King into the sanctuary. 25 The singers lead the way, the musicians [follow] after, among the maidens playing tambourines. 26 Bless God in the great congregation, [bless] the Lord from the fountain of Israel. 27 There [is] Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah [in] their company, the princes of Zebulun [and] of Naphtali. 28 Summon Your power, O God; ▼

▼LXX; Hebrew Your God has summoned your power

show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf. 29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bear you gifts. 30 Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, [until] it submits, [bringing] bars of silver. Scatter the nations [who] delight in war. 31 Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush ▼

▼That is, the upper Nile region

will stretch out her hands to God. 32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah 33 to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, {His} mighty voice resounds. 34 Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty [is] over Israel, whose strength [is] in the skies. 35 O God, [You are] awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to [His] people. Blessed [be] God!