Psalm 68 - GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

For the choir director; a psalm by David; a song.

68 God will arise.
His enemies will be scattered.
Those who hate him will flee from him.
2 Blow them away like smoke.
Let wicked people melt in God’s presence like wax next to a fire.

3 But let righteous people rejoice.
Let them celebrate in God’s presence.
Let them overflow with joy.
4 Sing to God; make music to praise his name.
Make a highway for him to ride through the deserts.[a]
The Lord is his name.
Celebrate in his presence.

5 The God who is in his holy dwelling place
is the father of the fatherless and the defender of widows.
6 God places lonely people in families.
He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives,
but rebellious people must live in an unproductive land.

7 O God, when you went in front of your people,
when you marched through the desert, Selah
8 the earth quaked and the sky poured
in the presence of the God of Sinai,
in the presence of the God of Israel.

9 You watered the land with plenty of rain, O God.
You refreshed it when your land was exhausted.
10 Your flock settled there.
Out of your goodness, O God,
you provided for oppressed people.

11 The Lord gives instructions.
The women who announce the good news are a large army.
12 ⌞They say,⌟ “The kings of the armies flee; they run away.
The women who remained at home will divide the goods.
13 Though you stayed among the sheep pens,
⌞you will be like⌟ the wings of a dove covered with silver, its feathers with yellow gold.
14 Meanwhile, the Almighty was still scattering kings there
like snow falling on Mount Zalmon.”

15 The mountain of Bashan is the mountain of God.
The mountain of Bashan is the mountain with many peaks.
16 Why do you look with envy, you mountains with many peaks,
at the mountain where God has chosen to live?
Certainly, the Lord will live there forever.

17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand in number,
thousands upon thousands.
The Lord is among them.
⌞The God of⌟ Sinai is in his holy place.
18 You went to the highest place.
You took prisoners captive.
You received gifts from people,
even from rebellious people, so that the Lord God may live there.

19 Thanks be to the Lord,
who daily carries our burdens for us.
God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is the God of victories.
The Almighty Lord is our escape from death.

21 Certainly, God will crush the heads of his enemies
⌞and destroy even⌟ the hair on the heads
of those who continue to be guilty.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan.
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea
23 so that you, ⌞my people,⌟ may bathe [b] your feet in blood
and the tongues of your dogs
may lick the blood of your enemies.”

24 Your festival processions, O God, can be seen by everyone.
They are the processions for my God, my king, into the holy place.
25 The singers are in front.
The musicians are behind them.
The young women beating tambourines are between them.
26 Thank God, the Lord, the source of Israel, with the choirs.
27 Benjamin, the youngest, is leading them,
⌞next⌟ the leaders of Judah with their noisy crowds,
⌞then⌟ the leaders of Zebulun,
⌞then⌟ the leaders of Naphtali.

28 Your God has decided you will be strong.
Display your strength, O God,
as you have for us before.
29 Kings will bring you gifts
because of your temple high above Jerusalem.
30 Threaten the beast who is among the cattails,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the nations,
until it humbles itself with pieces of silver.
Scatter the people who find joy in war.
31 Ambassadors will come from Egypt.
Sudan will stretch out its hands to God ⌞in prayer⌟.

32 You kingdoms of the world, sing to God.
Make music to praise the Lord. Selah
33 God rides through the ancient heaven, the highest heaven.
Listen! He makes his voice heard, his powerful voice.
34 Acknowledge the power of God.
His majesty is over Israel, and his power is in the skies.

35 God, the God of Israel, is awe-inspiring in his holy place.
He gives strength and power to his people.
Thanks be to God!

Footnotes

  1. 68:4 Or “Lift a song to him who rides upon the clouds.”
  2. 68:23 Greek, Targum, Syriac; Masoretic Text “shatter.”

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 68 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

68 To the Overseer. -- A Psalm, a song of David. Rise doth God -- scattered are His enemies! And those hating Him flee from His face. 2 As the driving away of smoke Thou drivest away, As the melting of wax before fire, The wicked perish at the presence of God. 3 And the righteous rejoice, they exult...
Read More

Psalm 68 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

68 To victory, the psalm of the song of David. God rise up, and his enemies be scattered; and they that hate him, flee from his face. (May God rise up, and his enemies be scattered; and they who hate him, flee from his face.) 2 As smoke faileth, fail they; as wax floateth (away) from the face of fir...
Read More

Psalm 68 - World English Bible (WEB)

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.68 Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away.As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.3 But let the righteous be glad. Let...
Read More

Psalm 68 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 68For the worship leader. A song of David.Psalm 68 is a hymn describing God as a Divine Warrior, marching from Sinai through the wilderness to make His home in Jerusalem.1 May the True God rise up and show Himself; may those who are united against Him be dispersed, while the people who hate Hi...
Read More

Psalm 68 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Triumphal Procession up to the TemplePsalm 681 For the music director, a psalm of David, a song.2 Let God arise!Let His enemies be scattered!Let those who hate Him flee before Him.3 As smoke is blown away, may You blow them away.As wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.4 But le...
Read More

Psalm 68 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Praise and ThanksgivingTo the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.68 [a]Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him!2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God!3 But let the righteous be joyful; l...
Read More

Psalm 68 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Praise and ThanksgivingTo the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.68 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him!2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God!3 But let the righteous be joyful; let ...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 68Praise and ThanksgivingTo the leader. Of David. A Psalm. A Song.1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.3 But let the righteous be joy...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 68Praise and ThanksgivingTo the leader. Of David. A Psalm. A Song.1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.3 But let the righteous be joy...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 68Praise and ThanksgivingTo the leader. Of David. A Psalm. A Song.1 Let God rise up; let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.(A)2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.(B)3 But let the righteous ...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 68For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.1 Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives.2 Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.3 But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New Life Version (NLV)

The God of Israel at Sinai68 May God rise up. May those who hate Him be divided. And may they run away from Him. 2 Drive them away like smoke in the wind. Let the sinful be destroyed before God like a candle melts by the fire. 3 But let those who are right and good be glad. Let them be happy befor...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Glory of God in His Goodness to IsraelTo the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song.68 Let (A)God arise,Let His enemies be scattered;Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.2 (B)As smoke is driven away,So drive them away;(C)As wax melts before the fire,So let the wicked perish at the prese...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 68[a]For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.2 May you blow them away like smoke – as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 68[a]For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.1 May God arise,(A) may his enemies be scattered;(B) may his foes flee(C) before him.2 May you blow them away like smoke—(D) as wax melts(E) before the fire, may the wicked perish(F) before God.3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoic...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 68For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.1 May God rise up and scatter his enemies. May they turn and run away from him.2 May you, God, blow them away like smoke.As fire melts wax, so may God destroy sinful people.3 But may those who do what is right be glad and filled with joy w...
Read More

Psalm 68 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 68[a]For the music director, by David, a psalm, a song.68 God springs into action.[b]His enemies scatter;his adversaries[c] run from him.[d]2 As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away.[e]As wax melts before fire,so the wicked are destroyed before God.3 But the godly[f] are ha...
Read More