Psalm 68

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered;

let those who hate him flee before him.

Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away;

as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;

let them also be merry and joyful.

Sing to God, sing praises to his Name; exalt him who rides upon the heavens;

YAHWEH is his Name, rejoice before him!

Father of orphans, defender of widows,

God in his holy habitation!

God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom;

but the rebels shall live in dry places.

O God, when you went forth before your people,

when you marched through the wilderness,

The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain, at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,

at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance;

you refreshed the land when it was weary.

Your people found their home in it;

in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.

The Lord gave the word;

great was the company of women who bore the tidings:

"Kings with their armies are fleeing away;

the women at home are dividing the spoils."

Though you lingered among the sheepfolds,

you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver, whose feathers are like green gold.

When the Almighty scattered kings,

it was like snow falling in Zalmon.

O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan!

O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!

Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountain, at the hill which God chose for his resting place?

truly, the LORD will dwell there for ever.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands;

the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.

You have gone up on high and led captivity captive; you have received gifts even from your enemies,

that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Blessed be the Lord day by day,

the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.

He is our God, the God of our salvation;

God is the LORD , by whom we escape death.

God shall crush the heads of his enemies,

and the hairy scalp of those who go on still in their wickedness.

The Lord has said, "I will bring them back from Bashan;

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

That your foot may be dipped in blood,

the tongues of your dogs in the blood of your enemies."

They see your procession, O God,

your procession into the sanctuary, my God and my King.

The singers go before, musicians follow after,

in the midst of maidens playing upon the hand-drums.

Bless God in the congregation;

bless the LORD , you that are of the fountain of Israel.

There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head; the princes of Judah in a company;

and the princes of Zebulon and Naphtali.

Send forth your strength, O God;

establish, O God, what you have wrought for us.

Kings shall bring gifts to you,

for your temple's sake at Jerusalem.

Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds,

and the peoples, a herd of wild bulls with its calves.

Trample down those who lust after silver;

scatter the peoples that delight in war.

Let tribute be brought out of Egypt;

let Ethiopia stretch out her hands to God.

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;

sing praises to the Lord.

He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;

he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.

Ascribe power to God;

his majesty is over Israel; his strength is in the skies.

How wonderful is God in his holy places!

the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people! Blessed be God!