For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.
1 Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
Let those who hate God run for their lives.
1 Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
Let those who hate God run for their lives.
2 Blow them away like smoke.
Melt them like wax in a fire.
Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
Melt them like wax in a fire.
Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
3 But let the godly rejoice.
Let them be glad in God’s presence.
Let them be filled with joy.
Let them be glad in God’s presence.
Let them be filled with joy.
4 Sing praises to God and to his name!
Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.a
His name is the LORD —
rejoice in his presence!
Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.a
His name is the LORD —
rejoice in his presence!
5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows —
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
6 God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7 O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
when you marched through the dry wasteland,
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when you marched through the dry wasteland,
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8 the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
before you, the God of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
before you, the God of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent abundant rain, O God,
to refresh the weary land.
to refresh the weary land.
10 There your people finally settled,
and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
you provided for your needy people.
and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
you provided for your needy people.
11 The Lord gives the word,
and a great armyb brings the good news.
and a great armyb brings the good news.
12 Enemy kings and their armies flee,
while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
13 Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures —
doves with wings of silver
and feathers of gold.
doves with wings of silver
and feathers of gold.
14 The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
16 Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
where the LORD himself will live forever?
at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
where the LORD himself will live forever?
17 Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
18 When you ascended to the heights,
you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
even from those who rebelled against you.
Now the LORD God will live among us there.
you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
even from those who rebelled against you.
Now the LORD God will live among us there.
19 Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
For each day he carries us in his arms.
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For each day he carries us in his arms.
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20 Our God is a God who saves!
The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death.
The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death.
21 But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
22 The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
23 You, my people, will washc your feet in their blood,
and even your dogs will get their share!”
and even your dogs will get their share!”
24 Your procession has come into view, O God —
the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
25 Singers are in front, musicians behind;
between them are young women playing tambourines.
between them are young women playing tambourines.
26 Praise God, all you people of Israel;
praise the LORD, the source of Israel’s life.
praise the LORD, the source of Israel’s life.
27 Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.
Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28 Summon your might, O God.d
Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
29 The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
to your Temple in Jerusalem.
to your Temple in Jerusalem.
30 Rebuke these enemy nations —
these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
Scatter the nations that delight in war.
these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
Scatter the nations that delight in war.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
Sing praises to the Lord.
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Sing praises to the Lord.
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33 Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
34 Tell everyone about God’s power.
His majesty shines down on Israel;
his strength is mighty in the heavens.
His majesty shines down on Israel;
his strength is mighty in the heavens.
35 God is awesome in his sanctuary.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!
The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!
Psalms, 68 psalm