Psalms 68

1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered, and may those who hate him flee from his presence.

2 As smoke vanishes, may they vanish. As wax melts before fire, so may sinners perish from God’s presence.

3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they delight in joy.

4 Sing to God; make music to his name. Prepare a way for the one who rides upon the west—Lord is his name—and rejoice before him. They will be troubled before his presence,

5 before the father of orphans and judge of widows. God is in his holy place.

6 God settles the solitary in a home and leads prisoners out with courage; likewise he leads out those who provoke him, who live in tombs.

7 God, when you went out before your people, when you crossed through the wilderness—Pause—

8 the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before the God of Sinai, before the God of Israel.

9 God, you will set apart a willing rain for your inheritance. It grew weak, but you restored it.

10 Your living creatures dwell in it. In your kindness, God, you prepared it for the poor.

11 The Lord will give a word to those proclaiming good news with great power.

12 The king of the beloved one’s armies will grant the beauty of the house a share in the spoils.

13 Even if you sleep among the allotments, there are the wings of a dove covered with silver and its back with pale gold. Pause.

14 When the heavenly one scatters kings over it, they will become white as snow on Zalmon.

15 God’s mountain is a rich mountain, a curdled mountain, a rich mountain.

16 Why do you imagine evil, you curdled mountains, against the mountain where God delighted to live? Indeed, the Lord will live there forever.

17 God’s chariot is ten thousand times over, with thousands flourishing. The Lord is among them at Sinai, in the holy place.

18 You went up on high; you took captivity captive. You received gifts among humanity, even among those who disobey, so as to live there. Blessed is the Lord God!

19 Blessed is the Lord day after day. The God of our rescues will prosper us. Pause.

20 Our God is a God who saves, and the ways out from death belong to the Lord, the Lord.

21 Yet God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of those who continue in their wrongdoings.

22 The Lord said,

“I will bring them back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

23 so your foot may be dipped in blood and your dogs’ tongues may have their share from the enemies.”

24 Your processions were seen, God—the processions of my God, my king, in the holy place.

25 Rulers went first, followed by musicians, among young women playing hand-drums.

26 Bless God in the assemblies, the Lord from the fountains of Israel.

27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, in ecstasy; the rulers of Judah lead them, with the rulers of Zebulun and the rulers of Naphtali.

28 God, command your strength. God, strengthen what you have accomplished among us.

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

30 Rebuke the wild animals among the reeds, the gathering of bulls among the calves of the peoples, so those tested with silver are not shut out. Scatter the nations that desire wars.

31 Ambassadors will come from Egypt; Cush will be first to stretch out her hand to God.

32 Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; make music to the Lord. Pause.

33 Make music to God, who rides on the highest heaven toward the east. Look, he will give his voice a sound of power.

34 Give glory to God. His majesty is over Israel, and his power is in the clouds.

35 God is wonderful among his holy ones. The God of Israel himself will give power and strength to his people. Blessed is God!