Psalm 68 - Living Bible (TLB)

68 Arise, O God, and scatter all your enemies! Chase them away! 2 Drive them off like smoke before the wind; melt them like wax in fire! So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

3 But may the godly man exult. May he rejoice and be merry. 4 Sing praises to the Lord! Raise your voice in song to him who rides upon the clouds![a] Jehovah is his name—oh, rejoice in his presence. 5 He is a father to the fatherless; he gives justice to the widows, for he is holy.[b] 6 He gives families to the lonely, and releases prisoners from jail, singing with joy! But for rebels there is famine and distress.

7 O God, when you led your people through the wilderness, 8 the earth trembled and the heavens shook. Mount Sinai quailed before you—the God of Israel. 9-10 You sent abundant rain upon your land, O God, to refresh it in its weariness! There your people lived, for you gave them this home when they were destitute.

11-13 The Lord speaks. The enemy flees. The women at home[c] cry out the happy news: “The armies that came to destroy us have fled!” Now all the women of Israel are dividing the booty. See them sparkle with jewels of silver and gold, covered all over as wings cover doves! 14 God scattered their enemies like snowflakes melting in the forests of Zalmon.

15-16 O mighty mountains in Bashan! O splendid many-peaked ranges! Well may you look with envy at Mount Zion, the mount where God has chosen to live forever. 17 Surrounded by unnumbered chariots, the Lord moves on from Mount Sinai and comes to his holy Temple high upon Mount Zion. 18 He ascends the heights, leading many captives in his train. He receives gifts for men,[d] even those who once were rebels. God will live among us here.

19 What a glorious Lord! He who daily bears our burdens also gives us our salvation.

20 He frees us! He rescues us from death. 21 But he will crush his enemies, for they refuse to leave their guilty, stubborn ways. 22 The Lord says, “Come,” to all his people’s enemies;[e] they are hiding on Mount Hermon’s highest slopes and deep within the sea! 23 His people must destroy them. Cover your feet with their blood; dogs will eat them.

24 The procession of God my King moves onward to the sanctuary— 25 singers in front, musicians behind, girls playing the timbrels in between. 26 Let all the people of Israel praise the Lord, who is Israel’s fountain. 27 The little tribe of Benjamin leads the way. The princes and elders of Judah, and the princes of Zebulun and Naphtali are right behind.[f] 28 Summon your might; display your strength, O God, for you have done such mighty things for us.

29 The kings of the earth are bringing their gifts to your Temple in Jerusalem. 30 Rebuke our enemies, O Lord. Bring them—submissive, tax in hand.[g] Scatter all who delight in war. 31 Egypt will send gifts of precious metals. Ethiopia will stretch out her hands to God in adoration. 32 Sing to the Lord, O kingdoms of the earth—sing praises to the Lord, 33 to him who rides upon the ancient heavens, whose mighty voice thunders from the sky.

34 Power belongs to God! His majesty shines down on Israel; his strength is mighty in the heavens. 35 What awe we feel, kneeling here before him in the sanctuary. The God of Israel gives strength and mighty power to his people. Blessed be God!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 68:4 clouds, or “deserts.”
  2. Psalm 68:5 is holy, literally, “is God in his holy habitation.”
  3. Psalm 68:11 at home, literally, “among the sheepfolds.”
  4. Psalm 68:18 he receives gifts for men, implied in Ephesians 4:8.
  5. Psalm 68:22 to all his people’s enemies, literally, “I will bring back from Bashan.”
  6. Psalm 68:27 are right behind, implied.
  7. Psalm 68:30 submissive, tax in hand, literally, “everyone submitting himself with pieces of silver.” An alternate rendering of v. 30 could be, “Trample upon those who lust after the tribute of smaller nations and who delight in aggressive wars.”

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