Psalm 68

1. God shall arise and by his might
   put all his enemies to flight;
   his triumph will be glorious.
   When those who hate him, scattered, flee
   before his pow’r and majesty,
   our God will be victorious.
   For just as wind blows smoke away,
   he will disperse the proud array
   of those who evil cherish.
   Like wax that melts before the fire,
   they will be vanquished by God’s ire;
   the wicked all will perish.
   
   
2. Now let the just with joyful voice
   in God’s victorious might rejoice;
   let them exult before him!
   O sing to God, his praise proclaim,
   and with your psalms extol his name;
   in joyful song adore him.
   Lift up your voice and sing aloud
   to him who rides upon the clouds
   high in the spacious heavens.
   The LORD – that is his glorious name.
   Rejoice in him with loud acclaim;
   to him be glory given.
   
   
3. He, father to the fatherless,
   defence of widows in distress,
   is in his habitation.
   God in the goodness of his grace
   gives lonely ones a dwelling place;
   he grants them consolation.
   He leads the captive out to see
   the joys of new-found liberty,
   for bounteous is God’s mercy.
   But who against him dare rebel
   must evermore with famine dwell
   in deserts dry and thirsty.
   
   
4. O God, when you went on ahead
   and through the barren desert led
   the flock you had assembled,
   you caused the earth to quake and cower;
   O God of Israel, great in power,
   before you, Sinai trembled.
   You with abundant rain, O LORD,
   your weary heritage restored
   and, as you had decided,
   you let your people settle there;
   you blessed them with your lavish care
   and for the poor provided.
   
   
5. When God but spoke his mighty word,
   great was the host whose shouts were heard
   as they proclaimed their tidings:
   “The kings are fleeing in despair!
   Our women in the plunder share,
   the spoils of war dividing!
   To those who stayed at home they bring
   as gift a dove with silvered wings
   and brightly gilded feathers.”
   Before the LORD the kings all fled
   like drifting snow on Zalmon spread
   by blasts of stormy weather.
   
   
6. O Bashan’s mountain, massive height,
   far higher than all peaks in sight,
   so great in rugged grandeur!
   O you whose tops are seen from far,
   whose peaks so high and num’rous are,
   majestic in their splendour!
   Why do you still with envy look
   at Zion’s mount, which God once took
   and made his throne’s location?
   There he for evermore will dwell;
   the LORD once made this humble hill
   his glorious habitation.
   
   
7. God’s chariots, mighty to behold,
   are twice ten thousand thousandfold;
   the mountains quaked and trembled.
   From Sinai, God victoriously
   came down into his sanctu’ry;
   in Zion all assembled.
   When you, O LORD, went up again
   you led your captives in your train
   with tribute in abundance;
   gifts, too, from those who rebels were –
   that you, LORD God, for evermore,
   might dwell there in resplendence.
   
   
8. Blest be the LORD, who on our way
   provides for us, and day by day
   upholds us by his power.
   God of Salvation is his name;
   this glorious name shall we proclaim.
   He is our shield and tower.
   Our God, the LORD, is strong to save
   from mortal danger, from the grave
   and every cruel oppression.
   But God will crush the heads of foes,
   the hairy crown of him who goes
   in ways of foul transgression.
   
   
9. The Lord has spoken: “My own hand
   will bring your foes from far-off lands;
   from Bashan I will guide them.
   From the remotest shores and seas
   I will retrieve your enemies,
   though ocean depths should hide them,
   for I your triumph will complete,
   that you with joy may bathe your feet
   in blood of conquered nations
   and see your dogs lap up their share
   as for my people I prepare
   my righteous vindication.”
   
   
10. The solemn throngs are gathered here;
    to God my King do they draw near.
    They come with sounding cymbals,
    the singers first, the minstrels last,
    and in among them, filing past,
    the maidens play their timbrels.
    In this great congregation’s throng
    let God be praised in joyful song,
    O Jacob’s generation!
    There Benjamin, the smallest clan,
    leads Naphtali and Zebulun,
    Judah and all the nation!
    
    
11. LORD, let your glorious pow’r be known;
    show us the strength on which your own
    have in the past depended.
    Because you have your temple here,
    kings in Jerusalem appear
    with gifts for you intended.
    Rebuke the beasts among the reeds,
    both bulls and calves, those filled with greed,
    all who in war take pleasure.
    Let envoys come from Egypt’s land;
    to God let Ethiopia’s hand
    stretch out to give its treasure.
    
    
12. Praise God and shout his glory forth,
    O kings and kingdoms of the earth!
    In joyful song adore him.
    Praise him who rides the ancient sky,
    who thunders forth his battle cry;
    let all bow down before him.
    Proclaim his pow’r and spread his fame,
    for great in Isr’el is his name;
    his might is in the heavens.
    O awesome God, you from your throne
    with pow’r and glory bless your own.
    To you all praise be given!