Psalms

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

1God stands up. His enemies scatter. The people who hate him run away from him.

2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

2Blow them away like smoke in the wind. Like wax melting in a fire, the wicked die when God comes near.

3But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

3But let good people be glad. Let them celebrate in front of God with great joy.

4Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

4Sing to God. Sing praises to his name. Lift up the one who rides on the clouds. His name is the LORD. Be glad before him.

5A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

5God, in his holy home, is a father to children who have no father, and a defender of widows.

6God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

6God gives lonely people a family. He leads prisoners out into freedom. But those who fight him live in dry, burned-up land.

7O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

7God, you went out ahead of your people. You marched through the empty desert. Selah

Note"Selah" is a Hebrew word used in the Psalms. Nobody is certain what it meant. It was probably a musical mark, like a pause or a signal to the singers.

8The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

8The earth shook. Rain poured down from the sky before God, the God of Sinai, the God of Israel.

9Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

9You sent plenty of rain, God. You brought your own land back to life when it was tired and dry.

10Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

10Your people settled in that land. God, out of your goodness, you provided for the poor.

11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

11The Lord gave the command, and a great crowd of women carried the news:

12Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

12"Kings and their armies run away fast. The woman who stayed home divides up what was taken."

13Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

13"Even when you lay down among the sheep pens, you will shine like a dove with silver wings and golden feathers."

NoteThe KJV says "lien among the pots," which is confusing today. The Hebrew word means the pens or shelters where sheep were kept, so the picture is of people resting at home while others fought.

14When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

14When God, the All-Powerful One, scattered the kings across the land, it was like snow falling on Mount Salmon.

15The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

15Mount Bashan is a mighty mountain. Mount Bashan has many high peaks.

16Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

16Why do you tall mountains stare with envy? God chose this mountain for his home. The LORD will live there forever.

17The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

17God's war chariots are countless, thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them in his holy place, as he was at Sinai.

18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

18You went up to the heights. You led away the people you captured. You took gifts from people, even from those who fought you, so the LORD God could live among them.

19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

19Praise the Lord. Every day he carries our load for us. He is the God who saves us. Selah

20He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

20Our God is a God who rescues. The Lord GOD is the one who saves us from death.

21But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

21But God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy skulls of people who keep on doing wrong.

22The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

22The Lord said, "I will bring my people back from Bashan. I will bring them back from the deep sea."

23That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

23"Then your feet will step in the blood of your enemies, and your dogs will lick it too."

24They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

24God, people have watched you march past, my God and King going into his holy place.

25The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

25The singers walk in front. The musicians follow behind. Young women play tambourines among them.

26Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

26Praise God when the people gather together. Praise the LORD, all of you who come from the family of Israel.

27There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

27There is little Benjamin, leading the way. There are the leaders of Judah with their crowd, and the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.

28Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

28Call up your power, God. Show us again the strength you have already used for us.

29Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

29Because of your temple in Jerusalem, kings will bring you gifts.

30Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

30Scold the beast hiding in the tall reeds, that herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Make them bow down and hand over their silver. Scatter the nations that love war.

31Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

31Messengers will come from Egypt. Ethiopia will quickly reach out her hands to God.

32Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

32Sing to God, all you kingdoms of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord. Selah

33To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

33Sing to the one who rides across the highest skies, the skies that have been there since long ago. Listen: he speaks, and his voice is powerful.

34Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

34Tell everyone how strong God is. His greatness covers Israel. His power fills the skies.

35O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

35God, you are awesome in your holy place. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise God.

NoteThe KJV word "terrible" did not mean bad or awful. In 1611 it meant awe-inspiring, so overwhelming that people are filled with wonder.