Psalm 68

New Coverdale Version

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; * let those who hate him also flee before him.

As the smoke vanishes, so shall you drive them away; * and as wax melts before the fire, so let the ungodly perish before the presence of God.

But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; * let them also be merry and joyful.

O sing unto God, and sing praises unto his Name; magnify him who rides upon the heavens. * The Lord is his Name; rejoice before him.

He is a father of the fatherless and defends the cause of the widows, * God in his holy habitation.

He is the God who gives the solitary a home, and brings the prisoners out of captivity, * but lets the rebellious dwell in a desert land.

O God, when you went forth before the people, * when you went through the wilderness,

The earth shook, and the heavens poured forth rain at the presence of God, * even as Sinai also was moved at the presence of God, who is the God of Israel.

You, O God, sent a gracious rain upon your inheritance * and refreshed the land when it was weary.

Your congregation found a dwelling there, * for you, O God, of your goodness have provided for the poor.

The Lord gave the word; * great was the company of those who proclaimed the tidings.

Kings with their armies fled, they fled, * and the women at home divided the spoil.

Though you have lain among the sheepfolds, * yet shall you be like the wings of a dove that are covered with silver, and whose feathers shine like gold.

When the Almighty scattered kings, * it was as if it snowed in Zalmon.

As the hill of Bashan, so is God’s hill, * even a high hill, as the hill of Bashan.

Why look with envy, you high hills? This is God’s hill, on which it pleases him to dwell; * surely, the Lord will abide on it for ever.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels, * and the Lord has come from Sinai into the holy place.

You have gone up on high; you have led captivity captive, and received gifts from men, * even from your enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

Praised be the Lord daily, * even the God who helps us and pours his benefits upon us.

He is our God, the God from whom salvation comes; * God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.

God shall wound the head of his enemies, * and the hairy scalp of those who persist in their wickedness.

The Lord has said, “I will bring back my people again, as I did from Bashan; * my own will I bring back again, as I did before from the depths of the sea,

That your foot may be dipped in the blood of your enemies, * and that the tongues of your dogs may be red with blood.”

Your solemn procession is seen, O God, * how you go into the sanctuary, my God and King.

The singers go before, the musicians follow after; * in the midst are the maidens playing the timbrels.

Give thanks unto God in the congregations, * unto the Lord, the fountain of Israel.

There is little Benjamin their ruler, and the princes of Judah their counsel, * the princes of Zebulon, and the princes of Naphtali.

O God, send forth your strength; * establish, O God, what you have wrought in us.

For your temple’s sake at Jerusalem, * kings shall bring presents unto you.

Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, * a herd of bulls with their calves;

Rebuke the peoples who trample on those whom you have tried as silver, * and scatter the peoples who delight in war.

Then shall they bring tribute out of Egypt; * Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God.

Sing unto God, O you kingdoms of the earth; * O sing praises unto the Lord,

Unto God who sits in the heavens over all from the beginning; * he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.

Ascribe power to God over Israel; * his worship and strength are in the clouds.

O God, you are wonderful in your holy places; * the God of Israel will give strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.