Psalm 48

A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. ¹How great is the LORD, how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on his holy mountain! ² It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, Or Mount Zion, in the far north; Hebrew reads Mount Zion, the heights of Zaphon. is the city of the great King! ³ God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers, revealing himself as its defender.

⁴The kings of the earth joined forces and advanced against the city. ⁵ But when they saw it, they were stunned; they were terrified and ran away. ⁶ They were gripped with terror and writhed in pain like a woman in labor. ⁷ You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish shattered by a powerful east wind.

⁸We had heard of the city’s glory, but now we have seen it ourselves— the city of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever.Interlude

⁹O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. ¹⁰ As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory. ¹¹ Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice. Let all the towns of Judah be glad because of your justice.

¹²Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem. Hebrew Zion. Walk around and count the many towers. ¹³ Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations. ¹⁴ For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die.