Psalms
Chapter 48
This is a song about Jerusalem, the city where God's temple stood, also called Zion. It remembers a time when enemy kings came to attack the city, saw it, and fled in fear. The rest of the psalm invites people to walk around the city, look at its walls and towers, and tell the next generation that God is the one who keeps it safe.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
1The LORD is great. He deserves great praise in the city of our God, on his holy mountain.
2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
2Mount Zion stands high and lovely, and the whole earth is glad because of it. It is the city of the great King, rising on the north side.
3God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
3God is there inside the strong buildings of the city. He has shown that he is a safe place.
4For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
4Look what happened: kings gathered their armies. They marched forward together.
5They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
5But when they saw the city, they were stunned. They were shaken with fear and ran away.
6Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
6Trembling grabbed hold of them there. They hurt like a woman giving birth.
7Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
7You smash the great ships of Tarshish with a wind out of the east.
Ships of Tarshish were the biggest trading ships people knew of. Naming them is a way of saying even the strongest ships are no match for God.
8As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
8We had heard about it, and now we have seen it with our own eyes, here in the city of the LORD of armies, the city of our God. God will keep this city standing forever. Selah.
"Selah" is a word left in the Hebrew text. It probably marked a musical pause. Nobody knows for sure.
9We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
9Inside your temple, God, we think about how faithfully you love us.
10According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
10God, your name reaches the far ends of the earth, and so does your praise. Your right hand is full of what is right.
11Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
11Let Mount Zion be happy. Let the towns of Judah cheer, because you judge fairly.
12Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
12Walk around Zion. Go all the way around her. Count her towers.
In 1611 English, "tell the towers" meant count the towers, not talk about them.
13Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
13Look closely at her walls. Study her strong buildings. Then you can tell the children who come after you.
14For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
14This God is our God forever and always. He will lead us all the way to the end of our lives.
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