Psalms 68

1 God [the supreme Almighty, Elohim] arises [let Him arise, stand up]. His enemies [those who hate Him, oppose Him] are scattered [be scattered, put to flight], and those who hate [are against, despise] Him flee [run away, be turned back] His presence [before Him, from His face]. word study 2 As smoke [vanishing, driven away] is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts [softening] before the fire, the wicked [those who hate God, enemies] will perish [come to an end, be destroyed] in the presence [face, before] of God [Elohim, the supreme Judge]. word study 3 But the righteous [upright, morally right] will be glad [happy, joyful] and rejoice [exult, celebrate with joy] before God [Elohim, the supreme Judge]; they will celebrate [leap for joy, rejoice with gladness] with joy [gladness, delight]. word study 4 Sing to God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]! Sing praises to His name [His reputation, character]. Exalt Him who rides [sits in triumph] on the clouds [the heavens, the sky] — His name is the LORD [Jah, Yehovah]— and rejoice [be glad, feel joyful] before Him [in His presence, face to face]. word study 5 A father [protector, provider] of the fatherless [orphans, those without parental care], and a defender [judge, advocate] of the widows [those without husbands, vulnerable women], is God [Elohim, the supreme Judge and Protector] in His holy [set apart, sacred] habitation [dwelling place, sanctuary]. word study 6 God [Elohim, the supreme Provider] settles the lonely [solitary, without family] in families [a dwelling place, a safe haven]; He leads the prisoners [those bound with chains] out to prosperity [freedom, success], but the rebellious [those who refuse to obey] dwell in a sun-scorched [dry, parched] land [a desolate, barren place]. word study 7 O God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], when You went out [marched, led the way] before Your people [Your chosen nation], when You marched [traveled, journeyed] through the wasteland [wilderness, desert, a dry and barren land], Selah [pause, reflect, consider] word study 8 the earth [trembled, shook violently] shook and the heavens poured [dropped] down rain before God [the One on Sinai, Elohim], the One on Sinai [the mountain of divine revelation], before God [the God of Israel, the covenant-keeping Lord], the God of Israel [the nation chosen by God]. word study 9 You sent abundant rain [a plentiful shower, a gracious raine], O God [Elohim, the supreme Provider]; You refreshed [confirmed, gave strength to] Your weary [tired, dry] inheritance [land, the promised land, the people of Israel]. word study 10 Your flock [congregation, people] settled therein; O God [Elohim, the supreme Provider], from Your bounty [goodness, kindness] You provided [prepared, looked after] for the poor [needy, those who are weak]. word study 11 The Lord [God, the supreme Ruler] gives [announces, declares] the command [word, message]; a great [numerous, vast] company [host, army] of women [female proclaimers, messengers] proclaim [publish, spread] it [the good news, tidings]: word study 12 “Kings [rulers, commanders] and their armies [large groups, military forces] flee [run away quickly, retreat] in haste [swiftly, with urgency]; she who waits [remains, tarries] at home [in the house, at her dwelling] divides [apportions, shares] the plunder [spoils, booty, spoil]. word study 13 Though you lie down [rest, take refuge] among the sheepfolds [pens, folds for sheep], the wings of the dove are covered with silver [valuable, precious], and her feathers with shimmering [yellow, shining] gold [a treasure, something highly valued].” word study 14 When the Almighty [all-powerful, Most High] scattered the kings [rulers, leaders] in the land [the earth, territory], it was like [similar to, as white as] the snow [frost, frozen crystals] falling [coming down, snowing] on Zalmon [a mountain, Salmon]. word study 15 A mountain [high hill, majestic peak] of God [Almighty, Shadday] is Mount Bashan; a mountain [high, rugged] of many peaks [high tops, lofty summits] is Mount Bashan. word study 16 Why do you gaze in envy [look with longing, stare at], O mountains [high hills, lofty peaks] of many peaks [summits, high points]? This is the mountain [hill] God [Elohim, the supreme One] chose [desired, selected] for His dwelling [abode, resting place], where the LORD [Yehovah, the Eternal One] will surely dwell [tabernacle, reside] forever [for all eternity, always]. word study 17 The chariots [war-carriage, multitude of angels] of God [Elohim, the supreme God] are tens of thousands [twenty thousand, myriads]— thousands of thousands [thousands upon thousands, innumerable] are they; the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] is in His sanctuary [holy place, sacred temple] as He was at Sinai [the mountain of God’s presence, a spiritual high point]. word study 18 You have ascended [gone up to a high place] on high; You have led [taken captive, conquered] captives [prisoners of war] away. You have received [accepted, taken] gifts [offerings, tribute] from men [human beings, people], even from the rebellious [those who resist, disobey], that the LORD [Adonay, the sovereign God] God [Elohim, the supreme deity] may dwell [live, reside] there. word study 19 Blessed be the Lord [Jah, the one true God], who daily [each and every day, continually] bears [carries, supports] our burden [loads, troubles, the weight we carry], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of our salvation [deliverance, rescue, freedom from sin]. Selah [pause, reflect, consider] word study 20 Our God [the God of salvation, having power to deliver] is a God [Elohim, the supreme Deliverer] of deliverance [rescuing from danger, saving]; the Lord [Adonay, our Master] GOD [the supreme deity, Yehovah] is our rescuer [Savior, one who saves] from death [the state of being dead, eternal separation]. word study 21 Surely God [the supreme Almighty, Elohim] will crush [smite, wound, smash] the heads [the hairy crowns, skulls] of His enemies [those who oppose Him], the hairy crowns [scalp, heads] of those who persist [continue, go on still] in guilty [sinful, trespassing] ways [behavior, guiltiness]. word study 22 The Lord [the supreme God, Elohim] said, “I will retrieve [bring back, make them come back] them from Bashan [a region in eastern Israel], I will bring [drag, bring again] them up from the depths [the deep parts] of the sea [the ocean, the abyss], word study 23 that your foot [dashing, crushing] may be dipped [washed, immersed] in the blood [life, vitality] of your foes [enemies, adversaries]— the tongues [jaws, mouths] of your dogs [domesticated animals, pets] in the same [shared, common].” word study 24 They have seen Your [visible, majestic] procession [march, goings], O God [Elohim, my sovereign]— the [triumphant, celebratory] march [procession, goings] of my God [my King, my Redeemer] and King [my Ruler, my Savior] into the [holy, sacred] sanctuary [the Temple, God’s dwelling place]. word study 25 The singers lead [leading the procession, at the front] the way, the musicians [players on instruments, minstrels] follow after, among the maidens [damsels, young women] playing [beating, with] tambourines [timbrels, brass instruments]. word study 26 Bless God [the Supreme Being, Creator] in the great congregation [assembly]; bless the LORD [Yehovah, the Covenant Keeper] from the fountain [source, origin] of Israel [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob]. word study 27 There is Benjamin [little], the youngest, ruling them [as their leader, with their ruler], the princes [chiefs, leaders] of Judah [with their company, in their assembly] in their company [with their council, their group], the princes [heads, rulers] of Zebulun and of Naphtali. word study 28 Summon [display, reveal] Your power [strength, might], O God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]; show [exert, demonstrate] Your strength [power, ability], O God, which [as You have done for us in the past] You have exerted [wrought, accomplished] on our behalf [for us, in our favor]. word study 29 Because of Your [holy, set apart] temple [sanctuary, place of worship] at Jerusalem [the city of God, Zion] kings [rulers, leaders] will bring [offer, present] You [Elohim, the supreme God] gifts [presents, tribute, acts of worship]. word study 30 Rebuke the beast [wild animal, company of spearmen] in the reeds, the herd [multitude] of bulls [strong ones, powerful nations] among the calves [young ones, people] of the nations, until it submits [humbles itself, bows down], bringing bars [pieces, tributes] of silver. Scatter the nations [people, peoples] who delight [take pleasure, enjoy] in war [conflicts, battles]. word study 31 Envoys [princes, mighty ones] will arrive from Egypt [the land of the Nile]; Cush [Ethiopia, a nation of great wealth] will stretch out her hands [in surrender, worship, and submission] to God [the Almighty, Creator of all]. word study 32 Sing [make music, offer praise] to God [Elohim, the supreme Lord], O kingdoms [nations, countries] of the earth [the world, all lands]; sing [offer, proclaim] praises [hymns, songs of worship] to the Lord [the Almighty]— Selah [pause, reflect, consider] word study 33 to Him [the Supreme Ruler, God] who rides upon [sovereignly controls] the highest heavens [the celestial realm, the heaven of heavens] of old [from eternity, from the beginning]; behold, His mighty [powerful, strong] voice [a voice of authority, a loud declaration] resounds [is heard, echoes]. word study 34 Ascribe the power [strength, might] to God [the supreme Ruler], whose majesty [excellency, greatness] is over Israel, whose strength [power, ability] is in the skies [heaven, the clouds]. word study 35 O God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], You are awesome [fearful, terrifying, inspiring awe] in Your sanctuary [holy place, sacred temple]; the God [El, the powerful One] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob] Himself gives [to bestow, to grant] strength [might, power, courage] and power [ability, might, authority] to His people [His nation, His community]. Blessed [praised, honored, worshiped] be God [the One who is to be worshiped]! word study