68 For the musical director: a song by David.

68 Let God take action so his enemies get scattered.

Let those who hate him flee away from him

2 like smoke is driven away.

Drive them away like wax melts beside a flame,

Let the wicked perish in God’s presence.

3 However let the godly people be glad.

Let them be happy in God’s presence.

May they celebrate with gladness.

4 Sing to God—sing praises about his reputation.

Praise the one who rides on the clouds.

His name is Yah, so celebrate in front of him.

5 A father of the fatherless,

≈a protector of the widows,

is God in the sin-free place where he lives.

6 God puts solitary people into homes.

He brings out the prisoners to live in prosperity,

but those who’re rebellious live in a dry, barren land.

7 God, when you went out ahead of your people,

you marched through the wilderness. (Instrumental break.)

8 The earth trembled and the skies also dropped rain in God’s presence—

in the presence of God at Sinai,

in the presence of Israel’s God.

9 You sent plentiful rain around.

You strengthened your inheritance when it was famished.

10 Your people lived in that land.

You, God, gave to the poor out of your goodness.

11 My master gave an order

and a large army proclaimed it.

12 Kings of armies flee—they take off—

she who waits at home divides out the loot.

13 Although you lie down out there among the sheepfolds,

you’ll be like the wings of a dove covered with silver,

and her feathers covered with yellow gold

14 The powerful one scattered kings there.

It was as when it snowed on Mt. Zalmon.

15 Mt. Bashan is one of God’s large mountains.

The hill country of Bashan has many mountain peaks.

16 Why do you look in envy, you high hill country,

at the mountain which God desires for the place he will live?

Indeed, Yahweh will live in it forever.

17 God has many thousands of chariots—thousands of thousands.

My master is among them in the sacred place,

like he was at Sinai.

18 You have ascended on high.

You have led away captives.

You have received gifts from among men,

even from those who were rebellious,

so that you, Yahweh God, might live there.

19 Blessed be my master, who carries a load for us each day—

the God who’s our salvation. (Instrumental break.)

20 God is a God who saves people.

My master Yahweh is the one who is able to rescue us from death.

21 But God will smash the heads of his enemies—

the hair on the head of those who continue with their guilty acts.

22 My master said, “I’ll bring my enemies back from Bashan.

I’ll bring them back from the depths of the ocean

23 so that you can crush your enemies—dipping your foot in blood,

and so that your dogs’ tongues can have their share too from your enemies.”

24 People have seen your processions, God—

the processions of my God, my King, into the sacred place.

25 The singers went first with the musicians behind them,

and the girls playing tambourines were in the middle.

26 Bless God in the large congregation.

Praise Yahweh, you who are from the fountain of Israel.

27 First there’s Benyamin, the smallest tribe,

then the leaders of Yehudah with their large numbers,

then the leaders of Zebulun and the leaders of Naphtali.

28 Israel, your God has predetermined your strength.

Reveal your power to us, God, as you have done in times past

29 because of your temple in Yerushalem,

where kings bring gifts to you.

30 Shout in battle against the wild animals in the reeds,

≈against the peoples, that multitude of bulls and calves.

Humiliate them and make them bring you gifts.

Scatter the people groups who love to attack other countries.

31 Princes will come out of Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim).

Ethiopia (Heb. Kush) will hurry to reach out to God with her hands.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms around the world. (Instrumental break.)

33 To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which exists from ancient times.

See, he lifts up his voice with strength.

34 Acknowledge God’s strength—

His sovereignty is over Israel and his power in the skies.

35 God, you are awesome in your sacred place.

The God of Israel—he’s the one who gives power and strength to his people.

Praise God.