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!