NET Bible

Psalm 68

^68:1 God springs into action. His enemies scatter; his adversaries run from him. ^68:2 As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God. ^68:3 But the godly are happy; they rejoice before God and are overcome with joy. ^68:4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name. Exalt the one who rides on the clouds. For the Lord is his name. Rejoice before him. ^68:5 He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy dwelling place. ^68:6 God settles in their own homes those who have been deserted; he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity. But sinful rebels live in the desert. ^68:7 O God, when you lead your people into battle, when you march through the wastelands, (Selah) ^68:8 the earth shakes. Yes, the heavens pour down rain before God, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. ^68:9 O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, you sustain them, ^68:10 for you live among them. You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God. ^68:11 The Lord speaks; many, many women spread the good news. ^68:12 Kings leading armies run away—they run away! The lovely lady of the house divides up the loot. ^68:13 When you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver and with glittering gold. ^68:14 When the Sovereign One scatters kings, let it snow on Zalmon. ^68:15 The mountain of Bashan is a towering mountain; the mountain of Bashan is a mountain with many peaks. ^68:16 Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, at the mountain where God has decided to live? Indeed the Lord will live there permanently. ^68:17 God has countless chariots; they number in the thousands. The Lord comes from Sinai in holy splendor. ^68:18 You ascend on high; you have taken many captives. You receive tribute from men, including even sinful rebels. Indeed, the Lord God lives there. ^68:19 The Lord deserves praise. Day after day he carries our burden, the God who delivers us. (Selah) ^68:20 Our God is a God who delivers; the Lord, the Sovereign Lord, can rescue from death. ^68:21 Indeed, God strikes the heads of his enemies, the hairy foreheads of those who persist in rebellion. ^68:22 The Lord says, “I will retrieve them from Bashan. I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, ^68:23 so that your feet may stomp in their blood, and your dogs may eat their portion of the enemies’ corpses.” ^68:24 They see your processions, O God— the processions of my God, my king, who marches along in holy splendor. ^68:25 Singers walk in front; musicians follow playing their stringed instruments, in the midst of young women playing tambourines. ^68:26 In your large assemblies praise God, the Lord, in the assemblies of Israel. ^68:27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler, and the princes of Judah in their robes, along with the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali. ^68:28 God has decreed that you will be powerful. O God, you who have acted on our behalf, demonstrate your power. ^68:29 Because of your temple in Jerusalem, kings bring tribute to you. ^68:30 Sound your battle cry against the wild beast of the reeds, and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls. They humble themselves and offer gold and silver as tribute. God scatters the nations that like to do battle. ^68:31 They come with red cloth from Egypt. Ethiopia voluntarily offers tribute to God. ^68:32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God. Sing praises to the Lord, (Selah) ^68:33 to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times. Look! He thunders loudly. ^68:34 Acknowledge God’s power, his sovereignty over Israel, and the power he reveals in the skies. ^68:35 You are awe inspiring, O God, as you emerge from your holy temple. It is the God of Israel who gives the people power and strength. God deserves praise!

^68:35 For the music director, according to the tune of “Lilies”; by David.