| 1 | God is [already] beginning to arise, and His enemies to scatter; let them also who hate Him flee before Him! |
| 2 | As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish before the presence of God. |
| 3 | But let the [uncompromisingly] righteous be glad; let them be in high spirits
and
glory before God, yes, let them [jubilantly] rejoice! |
| 4 | Sing to God, sing praises to His name, cast up a highway for Him Who rides through the deserts—His name is the Lord—be in high spirits
and
glory before Him! |
| 5 | A father of the fatherless and a judge
and
protector of the widows
is
God in His holy habitation. |
| 6 | God places the solitary in families
and
gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. |
| 7 | O God, when You went forth before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness—
Selah
[pause, and calmly think of that]!— |
| 8 | The earth trembled, the heavens also poured down [rain] at the presence of God; yonder Sinai quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. |
| 9 | You, O God, did send a plentiful rain; You did restore
and
confirm Your heritage when it languished
and
was weary. |
| 10 | Your flock found a dwelling place in it; You, O God, in Your goodness did provide for the poor
and
needy. |
| 11 | The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear
and
publish [the news] are a great host. |
| 12 | The kings of the enemies’ armies, they flee, they flee! She who tarries at home divides the spoil [left behind]. |
| 13 | Though you [the slackers] may lie among the sheepfolds [in slothful ease, yet for Israel] the wings of a dove are covered with silver, its pinions excessively green with gold [are trophies taken from the enemy]. |
| 14 | When the Almighty scattered kings in [the land], it was as when it snows on Zalmon [a wooded hill near Shechem]. |
| 15 | Is Mount Bashan the high mountain of summits, Mount Bashan [east of the Jordan] the mount of God? |
| 16 | Why do you look with grudging
and
envy, you many-peaked mountains, at the mountain [of the city called Zion] which God has desired for His dwelling place? Yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever. |
| 17 | The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them as He was in Sinai, [so also] in the Holy Place (the sanctuary in Jerusalem). |
| 18 |
[a]You have ascended on high. You have led away captive a train of vanquished foes; You have received gifts of men, yes, of the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell there with them. |
| 19 | Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens
and
carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation!
Selah
[pause, and calmly think of that]! |
| 20 | God is to us a God of deliverances
and
salvation; and to God the Lord belongs escape from death [setting us free]. |
| 21 | But God will shatter the heads of His enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as goes on still in his trespasses
and
guilty ways. |
| 22 | The Lord said, I will bring back [your enemies] from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the [Red] Sea, |
| 23 | That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the foe. |
| 24 | They see Your goings, O God, even the [solemn processions] of my God, my King, into the sanctuary [in holiness]. |
| 25 | The singers go in front, the players on instruments last; between them the maidens are playing on tambourines. |
| 26 | Bless, give thanks,
and
gratefully praise God in full congregations, even the Lord, O you who are from [Jacob] the fountain of Israel. |
| 27 | There is little Benjamin in the lead [in the procession], the princes of Judah and their company, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. |
| 28 | Your God has commanded your strength [your might in His service and impenetrable hardness to temptation]; O God, display Your might
and
strengthen what You have wrought for us! |
| 29 | [Out of respect] for Your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bring gifts to You. |
| 30 | Rebuke the wild beasts dwelling among the reeds [in Egypt], the herd of bulls (the leaders) with the calves of the peoples; trample underfoot those who lust for tribute money; scatter the peoples who delight in war. |
| 31 | Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands [with the offerings of submission] to God. |
| 32 | Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord!
Selah
[pause, and calmly think of that]! |
| 33 | [Sing praises] to Him Who rides upon the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, He sends forth His voice, His mighty voice. |
| 34 | Ascribe power
and
strength to God; His majesty is over Israel, and His strength
and
might are in the skies. |
| 35 | O God, awe-inspiring, profoundly impressive,
and
terrible are You out of Your holy places; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and fullness of might to His people. Blessed be God! |
Cross references:
-
Psalm 68:18 : Eph. 4:8.
|