Psalms

Chapter 68

God’s Enemies Are Scattered

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song.

Commentary not yet available

1 God arises. His enemies are scattered,

and those who hate Him flee His presence.

Commentary not yet available

2 As smoke is blown away,

You will drive them out;

as wax melts before the fire,

the wicked will perish in the presence of God.

Commentary not yet available

3 But the righteous will be glad

and rejoice before God;

they will celebrate with joy.

Commentary not yet available

4 Sing to God!

Sing praises to His name.

Exalt Him who rides on the clouds [a]

His name is the LORD—

and rejoice before Him.

Commentary not yet available

5 A father of the fatherless,

and a defender of the widows,

is God in His holy habitation.

Commentary not yet available

6 God settles the lonely in families;

He leads the prisoners out to prosperity,

but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

Commentary not yet available

7 O God, when You went out before Your people,

when You marched through the wasteland,

Selah

Commentary not yet available

8 the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain

before God, the One on Sinai,

before God, the God of Israel.

Commentary not yet available

9 You sent abundant rain, O God;

You refreshed Your weary inheritance.

Commentary not yet available

10 Your flock settled therein;

O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor.

Commentary not yet available

11 The Lord gives the command;

a great company of women proclaim it:

Commentary not yet available

12 “Kings and their armies flee in haste;

she who waits at home divides the plunder.

Commentary not yet available

13 Though you lie down among the sheepfolds,

the wings of the dove are covered with silver,

and her feathers with shimmering gold.”

Commentary not yet available

14 When the Almighty [b] scattered the kings in the land,

it was like the snow falling on Zalmon.

Commentary not yet available

15 A mountain of God is Mount Bashan;

a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.

Commentary not yet available

16 Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks?

This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling,

where the LORD will surely dwell forever.

Commentary not yet available

17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands—

thousands of thousands are they;

the Lord is in His sanctuary

as He was at Sinai. [c]

Commentary not yet available

18 You have ascended on high;

You have led captives away.

You have received gifts from men, [d]

even from the rebellious,

that the LORD God may dwell there.

Commentary not yet available

19 Blessed be the Lord,

who daily bears our burden,

the God of our salvation.

Selah

Commentary not yet available

20 Our God is a God of deliverance;

the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.

Commentary not yet available

21 Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies,

the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.

Commentary not yet available

22 The Lord said, “I will retrieve them from Bashan,

I will bring them up from the depths of the sea,

Commentary not yet available

23 that your foot may be dipped

in the blood of your foes—

the tongues of your dogs in the same.”

Commentary not yet available

24 They have seen Your procession, O God—

the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.

Commentary not yet available

25 The singers lead the way,

the musicians follow after,

among the maidens playing tambourines.

Commentary not yet available

26 Bless God in the great congregation;

bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.

Commentary not yet available

27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them,

the princes of Judah in their company,

the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

Commentary not yet available

28 Summon Your power, O God; [e]

show Your strength, O God,

which You have exerted on our behalf.

Commentary not yet available

29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem

kings will bring You gifts.

Commentary not yet available

30 Rebuke the beast in the reeds,

the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations,

until it submits, bringing bars of silver.

Scatter the nations who delight in war.

Commentary not yet available

31 Envoys will arrive from Egypt;

Cush [f] will stretch out her hands to God.

Commentary not yet available

32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;

sing praises to the Lord—

Selah

Commentary not yet available

33 to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old;

behold, His mighty voice resounds.

Commentary not yet available

34 Ascribe the power to God,

whose majesty is over Israel,

whose strength is in the skies.

Commentary not yet available

35 O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary;

the God of Israel Himself

gives strength and power to His people.

Blessed be God!

Commentary not yet available

Footnotes