Psalm 68 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Psalm 68[a]

The Exodus and Conquest, Pledge of Future Help

1 For the leader. A psalm of David; a song.

I

2 [b]May God arise;
may his enemies be scattered;
may those who hate him flee before him.(A)
3 As the smoke is dispersed, disperse them;
as wax is melted by fire,
so may the wicked perish before God.(B)
4 Then the just will be glad;
they will rejoice before God;
they will celebrate with great joy.

II

5 Sing to God, praise his name;
exalt the rider of the clouds.[c]
Rejoice before him
whose name is the Lord.(C)
6 Father of the fatherless, defender of widows(D)
God in his holy abode,
7 God gives a home to the forsaken,
who leads prisoners out to prosperity,
while rebels live in the desert.[d]

III

8 God, when you went forth before your people,(E)
when you marched through the desert,
Selah
9 The earth quaked, the heavens poured,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
10 You poured abundant rains, God,
your inheritance was weak and you repaired it.
11 Your creatures dwelt in it;
you will establish it in your goodness for the poor, O God.

IV

12 The Lord announced:
“Those bringing news are a great Army.
13 The kings of the armies are in desperate flight.(F)
Every household will share the spoil,
14 though you lie down among the sheepfolds,(G)
you shall be covered with silver as the wings of a dove,
her feathers bright as fine gold.”
15 When the Almighty routs the kings there,
it will be as when snow fell on Zalmon.[e]

V

16 You mountain of God, mountain of Bashan,
you rugged mountain, mountain of Bashan,
17 You rugged mountains, why look with envy
at the mountain[f] where God has chosen to dwell,
where the Lord resides forever?(H)
18 God’s chariots were myriad, thousands upon thousands;
from Sinai the Lord entered the holy place.
19 You went up to its lofty height;
you took captives, received slaves as tribute,(I)
even rebels, for the Lord God to dwell.

VI

20 Blessed be the Lord day by day,
God, our salvation, who carries us.(J)
Selah
21 Our God is a God who saves;
escape from death is the Lord God’s.
22 God will crush the heads of his enemies,
the hairy scalp of the one who walks in sin.(K)
23 The Lord has said:
“Even from Bashan I will fetch them,
fetch them even from the depths of the sea.[g]
24 You will wash your feet in your enemy’s blood;
the tongues of your dogs will lap it up.”(L)

VII

25 [h]Your procession comes into view, O God,
your procession into the holy place, my God and king.
26 The singers go first, the harpists follow;
in their midst girls sound the timbrels.(M)
27 In your choirs, bless God;
Lord, Israel’s fountain.
28 In the lead is Benjamin, few in number;
there the princes of Judah, a large throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali, too.(N)

VIII

29 Summon again, O God, your power,
the divine power you once showed for us,
30 From your temple on behalf of Jerusalem,
that kings may bring you tribute.
31 Roar at the wild beast of the reeds,[i]
the herd of mighty bulls, the calves of the peoples;
trampling those who lust after silver
scatter the peoples that delight in war.
32 Let bronze be brought from Egypt,(O)
Ethiopia hurry its hands to God.(P)

IX

33 You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;(Q)
chant the praises of the Lord,
Selah
34 Who rides the heights of the ancient heavens,
Who sends forth his voice as a mighty voice?
35 Confess the power of God,
whose majesty protects Israel,
whose power is in the sky.
36 Awesome is God in his holy place,
the God of Israel,
who gives power and strength to his people.(R)
Blessed be God!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 68 The Psalm is extremely difficult because the Hebrew text is badly preserved and the ceremony that it describes is uncertain. The translation assumes the Psalm accompanied the early autumn Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth), which included a procession of the tribes (Ps 68:25–28). Israel was being oppressed by a foreign power, perhaps Egypt (Ps 68:31–32)—unless Egypt stands for any oppressor. The Psalm may have been composed from segments of ancient poems, which would explain why the transitions are implied rather than explicitly stated. At any rate, Ps 68:2 is based on Nm 10:35–36, and Ps 68:8–9 are derived from Jgs 5:4–5. The argument develops in nine stanzas (each of three to five poetic lines): 1. confidence that God will destroy Israel’s enemies (Ps 68:2–4); 2. call to praise God as savior (Ps 68:5–7); 3. God’s initial rescue of Israel from Egypt (Ps 68:8), the Sinai encounter (Ps 68:9), and the settlement in Canaan (Ps 68:10–11); 4. the defeat of the Canaanite kings (Ps 68:12–15); 5. the taking of Jerusalem, where Israel’s God will rule the world (Ps 68:16–19); 6. praise for God’s past help and for the future interventions that will be modeled on the ancient exodus-conquest (Ps 68:20–24); 7. procession at the Feast of Tabernacles (Ps 68:25–28); 8. prayer that the defeated enemies bring tribute to the Temple (Ps 68:29–32); 9. invitation for all kingdoms to praise Israel’s God (Ps 68:33–35).
  2. 68:2 The opening line alluding to Nm 10:35 makes clear that God’s assistance in the period of the exodus and conquest is the model and assurance of all future divine help.
  3. 68:5 Exalt the rider of the clouds: God’s intervention is in the imagery of Canaanite myth in which the storm-god mounted the storm clouds to ride to battle. Such theophanies occur throughout the Psalm: Ps 68:2–3, 8–10, 12–15, 18–19, 22–24, 29–32, 34–35. See Dt 33:26; Ps 18:8–16; Is 19:1.
  4. 68:7 While rebels live in the desert: rebels must live in the arid desert, whereas God’s people will live in the well-watered land (Ps 68:8–11).
  5. 68:15 Zalmon: generally taken as the name of a mountain where snow is visible in winter, perhaps to be located in the Golan Heights or in the mountains of Bashan or Hauran east of the Sea of Galilee.
  6. 68:17 The mountain: Mount Zion, the site of the Temple.
  7. 68:23 Even from Bashan…from the depths of the sea: the heights and the depths, the farthest places where enemies might flee.
  8. 68:25–28 Your procession: the procession renews God’s original taking up of residence on Zion, described in Ps 68:16–19.
  9. 68:31 The wild beast of the reeds: probably the Nile crocodile, a symbol for Egypt; see Ps 68:32 and Ez 29:2–5.

Cross references

  1. 68:2 : Nm 10:35.
  2. 68:3 : Ps 97:5; Jdt 16:15; Wis 5:14; Mi 1:4.
  3. 68:5 : Ps 18:10; 104:3; Dt 33:26; Is 19:1.
  4. 68:6–7 : Ps 103:6; 146:7, 9; Ex 22:20–22; Bar 6:37.
  5. 68:8–9 : Ps 44:10; 114:4, 7; Jgs 5:4–5; Hb 12:26.
  6. 68:13 : Jgs 5:19, 22.
  7. 68:14 : Jgs 5:16.
  8. 68:17 : Ps 132:13–14; Ez 43:7.
  9. 68:19 : Ps 47:8; Eph 4:8–10.
  10. 68:20 : Ps 34:2; 145:2; Is 46:3–4; 63:9.
  11. 68:22 : Dt 32:42.
  12. 68:24 : Ps 58:11; 1 Kgs 21:19; 22:38; Is 63:1–6.
  13. 68:26 : Ps 81:2–3; 87:7; 149:3; 150:3–5; 2 Sm 6:5.
  14. 68:28 : Is 8:23.
  15. 68:32 : Ez 29:2ff.
  16. 68:32 : Is 18:7; 45:14.
  17. 68:33 : Ps 138:4.
  18. 68:36 : Ps 28:8; 29:11.

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