Psalms

A collection of songs and prayers expressing a wide range of emotions and thoughts on faith.

Chapter 68

1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

*Let God rise up; let those against Him run away; let those who don't like Him quickly leave.

2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

*Just like smoke is pushed away, push them away too; just like wax melts in front of fire, let the bad people disappear when they see God.

3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

*But let good people be happy; let them celebrate before God: yes, let them rejoice a lot.

4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

*Sing to God and praise His name. Tell everyone how great He is, especially for riding in the sky with the name JAH. Be happy when you do this.

5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

*God is a protector of those without fathers and a fair judge for widows in his sacred home.

6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

*God puts lonely people in families. He frees those held captive. But those who rebel live in a dry, barren place.

7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

*Dear God, when you went ahead of your people and walked through the desert, taking them with you; pause and think about it: (Selah is a pause or moment of reflection in the original text)

8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

*The ground trembled, the sky shook when God appeared; even Mount Sinai moved because of God, the God of Israel.

9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

*You, God, sent plenty of rain to help your land, when it was tired and needed it.

10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

*Your people have lived there; you, God, have kindly prepared it for the needy.

11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

*The Lord said the message: many people shared it with great success.

12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

*Armies' leaders quickly ran away, and the one at home got to share the stolen goods.

13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

*Even though you are near cooking pots, you will still be like a dove's wings covered in silver and feathers in yellow gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

*When God spread many kings across it, it turned very white, like snow in Salmon.

15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

*The hill of God is like a tall hill called Bashan.

16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

*Why do you high mountains jump? This is the mountain where God wants to live; yes, the Lord will stay there forever.

17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

*God has 20,000 angel chariots; the Lord is with them like at Mount Sinai, in a sacred place.

18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

*You have risen to great heights and taken control of those who were captured. You have received gifts for people, even for those who rebelled, so that the Lord God can live with them.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

*Praise the Lord! He gives us many good things every day and is our savior. Let's pause and think about that.

20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

*Our God is the savior, and God, our Lord, controls what comes from death.

21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

*But God will hurt those who oppose Him, and the strong head of someone who keeps doing wrong things.

22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

*The Lord said, "I will return people from Bashan, and I will bring them back from the deep sea."

23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

*So that your foot touches the blood of your enemies, and your dog's tongue also gets some of it.

24 They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

*They saw your actions, God; even the actions of my God, my King, in the holy place.

25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

*The musicians went first, the instrument players came next; there were also young girls playing drums.

26 Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

*Praise God in the groups, it's the Lord, from the source of Israel.

27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

*Benjamin brings a small ruler. With him are Judah's leaders, Zebulun's leaders, and Naphtali's leaders. They discuss together.

28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

*God has told you to be strong: Make us strong, God, in the things you have done for us.

29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

*Kings will give gifts to you because of your temple in Jerusalem.

30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

*Tell the group of spear-carriers to stop, along with many strong bulls and people's calves. Make them all give you money to obey. Spread out the people who enjoy fighting.

31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

*Princes will leave Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly reach out to God.

32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

*Sing to God, all countries on Earth; Praise the Lord; Stop for a moment:

33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

*To the one riding on the ancient skies, he now sends out his powerful voice.

34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

*Give strength to God; his greatness is over Israel, and his power is in the sky.

35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

*Dear God, you are mighty from your sacred places. You, God of Israel, give power to your people. How wonderful you are! Praise God.

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