[Image: Introduction to the Psalms]
PSALMS 68
God Shall Scatter His Enemies
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
[1] God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
[2] As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
[3] But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!
[4] Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
exult before him!
[5] Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
[6] God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
[7] O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
[8] the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
[9] Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
[10] your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
[11] The Lord gives the word;
the women who announce the news are a great host:
[12] “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—
[13] though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
[14] When the Almighty scatters kings there,
let snow fall on Zalmon.
[15] O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
[16] Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God desired for his abode,
yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
[17] The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
[18] You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
[19] Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
[20] Our God is a God of salvation,
and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
[21] But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
[22] The Lord said,
“I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
[23] that you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
[24] Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
[25] the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
[26] “Bless God in the great congregation,
the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
[27] There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
[28] Summon your power, O God,
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
[29] Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings shall bear gifts to you.
[30] Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.
[31] Nobles shall come from Egypt;
Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
[32] O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord, Selah
[33] to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
[34] Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
[35] Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God! (ESV)
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