Psalms 48

Zion Exalted

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 The Lord is great and highly praised

in the city of our God.  * 48:1 Ps 2:6; Mc 4:1; Zch 8:3

His holy mountain, 2 rising splendidly,

is the joy of the whole earth.

Mount Zion — the summit of Zaphon —

is the city of the great King.  * 48:2 Mt 5:35

3 God is known as a stronghold

in its citadels.  * 48:3 Ps 46:7; 50:2

4 Look! The kings assembled;

they advanced together.  * 48:4 2Sm 10:6–19

5 They looked and froze with fear;

they fled in terror.  * 48:5 Ex 15:15

6 Trembling seized them there,

agony like that of a woman in labor,  * 48:6 Is 13:8; Hs 13:13

7 as you wrecked the ships of Tarshish

with the east wind.  * 48:7 1Kg 22:48; Jr 18:17; Ezk 27:26

8 Just as we heard, so we have seen

in the city of the Lord of Armies,

in the city of our God;

God will establish it forever.  * 48:8 Ps 87:5; Is 2:2; Mc 4:1Selah

9 God, within your temple,

we contemplate your faithful love.  * 48:9 Ps 26:3; 40:10

10 Like your name, God, so your praise

reaches to the ends of the earth;  * 48:10 Ps 113:3; Mal 1:11

your right hand is filled with justice.  * 48:10 Ps 45:4

11 Mount Zion is glad.

Judah’s villages  * 48:11 Lit daughters rejoice

because of your judgments.  * 48:11 Ps 97:8

12 Go around Zion, encircle it;

count its towers,

13 note its ramparts; tour its citadels

so that you can tell a future generation:  * 48:12–13 Ps 78:5–7; 122:7

14 "This God, our God forever and ever —

he will always lead us."  * 48:14 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read over death,* 48:14 Ps 23:3–4; Is 58:11