Psalm 68
Exsurgat Deus
1
Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *
let those who hate him also flee before him.
2
As the smoke vanishes, so shall you drive them away; *
and as wax melts before the fire, so let the ungodly perish before the presence of God.
3
But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *
let them also be merry and joyful.
4
O sing unto God, and sing praises unto his Name; magnify him who rides upon the heavens. *
The Lord is his Name; rejoice before him.
5
He is a father of the fatherless and defends the cause of the widows, *
God in his holy habitation.
6
He is the God who gives the solitary a home, and brings the prisoners out of captivity, *
but lets the rebellious dwell in a desert land.
7
O God, when you went forth before the people, *
when you went through the wilderness,
8
The earth shook, and the heavens poured forth rain at the presence of God, *
even as Sinai also was moved at the presence of God, who is the God of Israel.
9
You, O God, sent a gracious rain upon your inheritance *
and refreshed the land when it was weary.
10
Your congregation found a dwelling there, *
for you, O God, of your goodness have provided for the poor.
11
The Lord gave the word; *
great was the company of those who proclaimed the tidings.
12
Kings with their armies fled, they fled, *
and the women at home divided the spoil.
13
Though you have lain among the sheepfolds, *
yet shall you be like the wings of a dove that are covered with silver, and whose feathers shine like gold.
14
When the Almighty scattered kings, *
it was as if it snowed in Zalmon.
15
As the hill of Bashan, so is God’s hill, *
even a high hill, as the hill of Bashan.
16
Why look with envy, you high hills? This is God’s hill, on which it pleases him to dwell; *
surely, the Lord will abide on it for ever.
17
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels, *
and the Lord has come from Sinai into the holy place.
18
You have gone up on high; you have led captivity captive, and received gifts from men, *
even from your enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19
Praised be the Lord daily, *
even the God who helps us and pours his benefits upon us.
20
He is our God, the God from whom salvation comes; *
God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
21
God shall wound the head of his enemies, *
and the hairy scalp of those who persist in their wickedness.
22
The Lord has said, “I will bring back my people again, as I did from Bashan; *
my own will I bring back again, as I did before from the depths of the sea,
23
That your foot may be dipped in the blood of your enemies, *
and that the tongues of your dogs may be red with blood.”
24
Your solemn procession is seen, O God, *
how you go into the sanctuary, my God and King.
25
The singers go before, the musicians follow after; *
in the midst are the maidens playing the timbrels.
26
Give thanks unto God in the congregations, *
unto the Lord, the fountain of Israel.
27
There is little Benjamin their ruler, and the princes of Judah their counsel, *
the princes of Zebulon, and the princes of Naphtali.
28
O God, send forth your strength ; *
establish, O God, what you have wrought in us.
29
For your temple’s sake at Jerusalem *
kings shall bring presents unto you.
30
Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, *
a herd of bulls with their calves;
31
Rebuke the peoples who trample on those whom you have tried as silver, *
and scatter the peoples who delight in war.
32
Then shall they bring tribute out of Egypt; *
Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God.
33
Sing unto God, O you kingdoms of the earth; *
O sing praises unto the Lord,
34
Unto God who sits in the heavens over all from the beginning; *
he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
35
Ascribe power to God over Israel; *
his worship and strength are in the clouds.
36
O God, you are wonderful in your holy places; *
the God of Israel will give strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.