For the music director. A Psalm of David. A Song.

1 * 68:1 Or God shall May God arise, *68:1 Or His enemies shallmay His enemies be scattered,

And *68:1 Or those who hate Him shallmay those who hate Him flee from His presence.

2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;

As wax melts before a fire,

So the wicked will perish before God.

3 But the righteous will be joyful; they will rejoice before God;

Yes, they will rejoice with gladness.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;

* 68:4 Or Prepare the way for Him Exalt Him who rides through the deserts,

Whose name is *68:4 Heb Yahthe Lord, and be jubilant before Him.

5 A father of the fatherless and a judge *68:5 Lit offor the widows,

Is God in His holy dwelling.

6 God *68:6 Lit makes the solitary to dwell in a housemakes a home for the lonely;

He leads out the prisoners into prosperity,

Only the rebellious live in parched lands.

7 God, when You went forth before Your people,

When You marched through the desert, Selah

8 The earth quaked;

The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;

* 68:8 Lit This is Sinai which Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 You made plentiful rain fall, God;

You confirmed Your inheritance when it was *68:9 Lit wearyparched.

10 Your creatures settled in it;

In Your kindness You provided for the poor, God.

11 The Lord gives the *68:11 Lit wordcommand;

The women who proclaim good news are a great army:

12 "Kings of armies flee, they flee,

And she who remains at home will divide the spoils!"

13 * 68:13 Lit If When you lie down among the sheepfolds,

You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver,

And its pinions with *68:13 I.e., gold alloyed with silverglistening gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered the kings *68:14 Lit in itthere,

It was snowing in Zalmon.

15 The mountain of Bashan is a *68:15 Or mighty mountainmountain of God;

The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.

16 Why do you look with envy, you mountains of many peaks,

At the mountain God has desired as His dwelling?

Indeed, the Lord will dwell there forever.

17 The chariots of God are *68:17 Lit twice 10,000myriads, thousands upon thousands;

* 68:17 Another reading is The Lord came from Sinai into the sanctuary The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.

18 You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives;

You have received gifts among people,

Even among the rebellious as well, that *68:18 Heb Yahthe Lord God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,

The God who is our salvation. Selah

20 God is to us a God of salvation;

And to *68:20 Heb YHWH, usually rendered LordGod the Lord belong ways of escape *68:20 I.e., in view of; lit forfrom death.

21 God certainly will shatter the heads of His enemies,

The hairy *68:21 Lit skullhead of one who goes about in his guilt.

22 The Lord *68:22 Or sayssaid, "I will bring them back from Bashan.

I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

23 So that *68:23 Some ancient versions render, you may bathe your foot in bloodyour foot may shatter them in blood,

And the tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies."

24 They have seen Your procession, God,

The procession of my God, my King, *68:24 Or in holinessinto the sanctuary.

25 The singers went on, the musicians after them,

* 68:25 Or The maidens in the midst In the midst of the young women beating tambourines.

26 Bless God in the congregations,

Even the Lord, you who are of the fountain of Israel.

27 Benjamin, the *68:27 Or smallestyoungest, is there, *68:27 Or their rulerruling them,

The leaders of Judah in their company,

The leaders of Zebulun, the leaders of Naphtali.

28 *68:28 Some mss Command, GodYour God has commanded your strength;

Show Yourself strong, God, You who acted *68:28 Lit for usin our behalf.

29 * 68:29 Or From Your temple Because of Your temple at Jerusalem

Kings will bring gifts to You.

30 Rebuke the animals *68:30 Lit ofin the reeds,

The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples,

Trampling the pieces of silver;

He has scattered the peoples who delight in war.

31 * 68:31 As in LXX; MT uncertain, possibly, Articles of bronze; or Articles of red cloth Messengers will come from Egypt;

* 68:31 Or Ethiopia Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,

Sing praises to the Lord, Selah

33 To Him who rides upon the *68:33 Lit heaven of heavens of oldhighest heavens, which are from ancient times;

Behold, He *68:33 Lit gives forthspeaks with His voice, a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe strength to God;

His majesty is over Israel,

And His strength is in the *68:34 Lit cloudsskies.

35 * 68:35 Or Awesome is God from your sanctuary God, You are awesome from Your *68:35 Lit holy placessanctuary.

The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.

Blessed be God!