Psalms 68

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

1God stands up. His enemies scatter. 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. Wax melts near fire. In the same way, bad people come to an end when God comes near.

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

3But people who do right will be glad. They will cheer with joy in front of God.

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 praise to his name. He rides on the clouds. His name is the LORD. Be glad in front of him.

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

5God is like a father to children who have no father. He stands up for women whose husbands have died. He does this from his holy home.

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 a good life. But people who fight him live in dry, sun-baked 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 with them through the empty desert. Selah.

NoteSelah is a Hebrew word that was never translated. It probably marked a pause or a musical break in the song.

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 ground shook, and rain poured down from the sky. This happened when God came near. Even Mount Sinai shook before God, 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. Your land was tired, and you made it fresh again.

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

10Your people made their home in that land. God, you were kind and gave food to the poor.

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

11The Lord gave the word. A great crowd of women went out and told 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 waiting at home shares out what they left behind.

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.

13Even when you lie down among the sheep pens, you shine. You are like a dove with silver wings and gold feathers."

NoteThe KJV says "lien among the pots." The Hebrew picture is lying down among the sheep pens, the low walls where sheep slept at night.

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

14The Almighty scattered kings across the land. It looked 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 great mountain. It is a tall mountain with many 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 stare with envy, you tall mountains? 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 has thousands and thousands of chariots, war carts pulled by horses. The Lord is there 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 high. You led your prisoners away with you. You took gifts from people, even from those who fought you. Now the LORD God can 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 heavy load. 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 the God who saves. The Lord GOD is the one who rescues 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.

21God will crush the heads of his enemies. He will crush the hairy heads of those who keep 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.

23Then your feet will step in the blood of your enemies. Your dogs will lick that blood too."

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

24God, people have seen you march in. They saw my God and King walk into his holy place.

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

25The singers walked in front. The musicians came behind them. Young women played tambourines, small drums you shake and tap.

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

26Praise God when you all meet together. Praise the LORD, all of you who come from 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 Benjamin, the smallest tribe, or family group, leading the way. The leaders of Judah are there in a crowd. So are the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.

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

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

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

29Kings will bring you gifts because of your temple, your house, in Jerusalem.

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.

30Tell off the beast that hides in the tall river reeds. Tell off the strong bulls and the young bulls of the nations. Make them bow down and bring bars of silver. Scatter the people who love war.

NoteThe KJV "company of spearmen" is really a picture of a wild animal hiding in the river reeds. It stands for a strong enemy nation.

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

31Leaders will come from Egypt. Ethiopia will soon lift up 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 praise 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, which are very old. Listen! He speaks with a mighty voice.

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

34Say that God is strong. His greatness covers Israel. His strength 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 fill people with wonder in your holy place. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise God.

NoteIn 1611 "terrible" meant filling people with awe and wonder. It did not mean nasty or bad.