Psalms 48
What Happens in This Chapter
This song praises God and the city of Jerusalem, also called Zion, where God's temple stood. Kings came to attack the city, but they saw it and ran away in fear. The singers walk around the city and count its towers, so they can tell their children about it. The song ends by saying God will guide his people always.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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 lots of praise. We praise him in his city, on his holy hill.
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 is a beautiful high place. It makes the whole earth happy. It is the city of the great King.
"Beautiful for situation" means the city sits in a lovely, high spot. It is about the place, not the city's feelings.
3God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
3God is inside the strong buildings of the city. He has shown that he keeps his people safe.
4For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
4Look! Kings gathered their armies. They marched toward the city together.
5They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
5But when they saw the city, they were shocked. They were scared and ran away.
6Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
6They started shaking with fear. They hurt like a woman having a baby.
7Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
7God, you send a strong east wind. It smashes the big ships from Tarshish.
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.
8People told us about this city, and now we have seen it ourselves. It is the city of the LORD, the God who leads armies. It is our God's city. God will keep it safe forever. Selah.
"Selah" is a word in the old songbook. Nobody today knows for sure what it meant. It may have been a pause or a music cue.
9We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
9God, we sit inside your temple and think. We think about how much 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, people everywhere know your name. So people everywhere praise you. You always do what is right and fair.
11Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
11Mount Zion is happy. The towns of Judah are glad. This is because you judge fairly.
"Daughters of Judah" means the smaller towns around Jerusalem, and the people in them.
12Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
12Walk around Zion. Go all the way around the city. Count her tall towers.
13Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
13Look carefully at her strong walls. Look at her fine buildings. Then you can tell your children about them.
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 ever. He will lead us all our lives.
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