68:1 God rises up and scatters his enemies. Those who hate him run away in defeat. |
68:2 As smoke is blown away, so he drives them off; as wax melts in front of the fire, so do the wicked perish in God's presence. |
68:3 But the righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy. |
68:4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; prepare a way for him who rides on the clouds. His name is the LORD ---be glad in his presence! |
68:5 God, who lives in his sacred Temple, cares for orphans and protects widows. |
68:6 He gives the lonely a home to live in and leads prisoners out into happy freedom, but rebels will have to live in a desolate land. |
68:7 O God, when you led your people, when you marched across the desert, |
68:8 the earth shook, and the sky poured down rain, because of the coming of the God of Sinai, the coming of the God of Israel. |
68:9 You caused abundant rain to fall and restored your worn-out land; |
68:10 your people made their home there; in your goodness you provided for the poor. |
68:11 The Lord gave the command, and many women carried the news: |
68:12 "Kings and their armies are running away!" The women at home divided what was captured: |
68:13 figures of doves covered with silver, whose wings glittered with fine gold. (Why did some of you stay among the sheep pens on the day of battle?) |
68:14 When Almighty God scattered the kings on Mount Zalmon, he caused snow to fall there. |
68:15 What a mighty mountain is Bashan, a mountain of many peaks! |
68:16 Why from your mighty peaks do you look with scorn on the mountain on which God chose to live? The LORD will live there forever! |
68:17 With his many thousands of mighty chariots the Lord comes from Sinai into the holy place. |
68:18 He goes up to the heights, taking many captives with him; he receives gifts from rebellious people. The LORD God will live there. |
68:19 Praise the Lord, who carries our burdens day after day; he is the God who saves us. |
68:20 Our God is a God who saves; he is the LORD, our Lord, who rescues us from death. |
68:21 God will surely break the heads of his enemies, of those who persist in their sinful ways. |
68:22 The Lord has said, "I will bring your enemies back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the ocean, |
68:23 so that you may wade in their blood, and your dogs may lap up as much as they want." |
68:24 O God, your march of triumph is seen by all, the procession of God, my king, into his sanctuary. |
68:25 The singers are in front, the musicians are behind, in between are the young women beating the tambourines. |
68:26 "Praise God in the meeting of his people; praise the LORD, all you descendants of Jacob!" |
68:27 First comes Benjamin, the smallest tribe, then the leaders of Judah with their group, followed by the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali. |
68:28 Show your power, O God, the power you have used on our behalf |
68:29 from your Temple in Jerusalem, where kings bring gifts to you. |
68:30 Rebuke Egypt, that wild animal in the reeds; rebuke the nations, that herd of bulls with their calves, until they all bow down and offer you their silver. Scatter those people who love to make war! |
68:31 Ambassadors will come from Egypt; the Ethiopians will raise their hands in prayer to God. |
68:32 Sing to God, kingdoms of the world, sing praise to the Lord, |
68:33 to him who rides in the sky, the ancient sky. Listen to him shout with a mighty roar. |
68:34 Proclaim God's power; his majesty is over Israel, his might is in the skies. |
68:35 How awesome is God as he comes from his sanctuary--- the God of Israel! He gives strength and power to his people. Praise God! |