Psalms 68
God’s Enemies Are Scattered
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song.
1As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.2But the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy.
3Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds— His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him.
4A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy habitation.
5God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
6O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland, Selah
7the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
8You sent abundant rain, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance.
9Your flock settled therein; O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor.
10The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:
11“Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.
12Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.”
13When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like the snow falling on Zalmon.
14A mountain of God is Mount Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.
15Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling, where the LORD will surely dwell forever.
16The chariots of God are tens of thousands — thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
17You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
18Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation. Selah
19Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.
20Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.
21The Lord said, “I will retrieve them from Bashan, I will bring them up from the depths of the sea,
22that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes— the tongues of your dogs in the same.”
23They have seen Your procession, O God — the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.
24The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.
25Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.
26There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
27Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.
28Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.
29Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, until it submits, bringing bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
30Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.
31Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord— Selah
32to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.
33Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.
34O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!