3. As smoke is driven away, so you drive [them] away.
As wax melts before a fire,
so the wicked perish before God.
4. But the righteous exult joyfully before God;
and they shout with a joyful sound.
5. Sing to God! Sing praise to his name!
Bank up [a way] for the one who rides through the desert—his name is Yah—
and celebrate before him—
6. father of orphans, and judge of widows!
God is in his holy dwelling place.
7. God is the one who settles the desolate in a home,
who skilfully releases prisoners.
Rebels, however, dwell in a parched land.
8. God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, selah,
9. The earth quaked
and the heavens also poured
before God, the one of Sinai—
before God, the God of Israel.
10. You would shower abundant rain, God.
[Behold!] your inheritance, wearied! You established it.
11. Your living creatures dwelt in it.
You would prepare [it] for the afflicted with your goodness, God.
12. The Lord gives a word.
The messengers are a large army.
13. Kings of armies—[these] will flee [and then those] will flee.
And the beautiful one of the house will divide the spoil.
14. If you lie down between the borders,
the dove’s wings are covered with silver,
and its pinions with the yellow of gold.
15. When Shaddai scatters kings on it—
it will snow on Zalmon.
16. Mount Bashan is the mountain of “God”;
Mount Bashan is a many-peaked mountain.
17. Why—mountains, many-peaked ones—, do you intently watch
the mountain where God desired to dwell?
Indeed, YHWH will dwell [there] forever.
18. God’s chariotry is countless—thousands upon thousands.
The Lord is among them—[the One] of Sinai is [among them] in his holiness.
19. You went up on high, you took captives captive—
you received gifts among mankind—
and (you also took captive) rebels, that they may dwell with Yah God.
20. May the Lord be blessed!
Daily he bears [our burden] for us—
God our salvation, selah.
21. God is a God of deliverance for us.
And the ways of escape from death belong to YHWH the Lord.
22. Indeed, God will crush the heads of his enemies—
the hairy crown of the one who walks about in his guilt.
23. The Lord said, ‘I will bring [you] back from Bashan.
I will bring [you] back from the depths of the sea
24. so that your foot may wade in blood.
As for the tongues of your dogs, their portion will be from enemies.
25. Your processions are seen, God—
the processions of my God, my king, into the sanctuary.
26. The singers went in front, the musicians behind,
among all the young women playing drums.
27. Bless God in the assembly!
[Bless] YHWH, you who are from the source of Israel!
28. There is Benjamin, the young one, their ruler.
[There are] the princes of Judah with their throng.
[There are] the princes of Zebulun, [there are] the princes of Naphtali.
29. Your God has commanded your strength.
Show your strength, God,You who have acted for us!
30. Because of your temple [which is] above Jerusalem,
kings will bring gifts to you.
31. Rebuke the beast of the reed, the herd of bulls among the calves—the people—
those who trample down others by crushing them for silver!
He has scattered people that delight in battles.
32. Nobles will come from Egypt.
Cush will hasten his hands towards God.
33. Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth!
Sing praises to the Lord—selah—
34. to him who rides on the highest heavens of old!
Look! He raises his voice—a mighty voice.
35. Ascribe strength to God!
His greatness is over Israel,
and his strength is in the skies.
36. You, God, are awesome from your sanctuary.
The God of Israel—
he gives strength and might to the people.
Blessed be God!
The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.
For links to other translations of Psalm 68, click here.
Verse-by-Verse
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