Psalm 68

To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David.

1        Let God arise, and scattered

                   let all his en'mies be;

          And let all those that do him hate

                   before his presence flee.

2        As smoke is driv'n, so drive thou them;

                   as fire melts wax away,

          Before God's face let wicked men

                   so perish and decay.

3        But let the righteous be glad:

                   let them before God's sight

          Be very joyful; yea, let them

                   rejoice with all their might.

4        To God sing, to his name sing praise;

                   extol him with your voice,

          That rides on heav'n, by his name JAH,

                   before his face rejoice.

5        Because the Lord a father is

                   unto the fatherless;

          God is the widow's judge, within

                   his place of holiness.

6        God doth the solitary set

                   in fam'lies: and from bands

          The chain'd doth free; but rebels do

                   inhabit parched lands.

7        O God, what time thou didst go forth

                   before thy people's face;

          And when through the great wilderness

                   thy glorious marching was;

8        Then at God's presence shook the earth,

                   then drops from heaven fell;

          This Sinai shook before the Lord,

                   the God of Israel.

9        O God, thou to thine heritage

                   didst send a plenteous rain,

          Whereby thou, when it weary was,

                   didst it refresh again.

10      Thy congregation then did make

                   their habitation there:

          Of thine own goodness for the poor,

                   O God, thou didst prepare.

11      The Lord himself did give the word,

                   the word abroad did spread;

          Great was the company of them

                   the same who published.

12      Kings of great armies foiled were,

                   and forc'd to flee away;

          And women, who remain'd at home,

                   did distribute the prey.

13      Though ye have lien among the pots,

                   like doves ye shall appear,

          Whose wings with silver, and with gold

                   whose feathers cover'd are.

14      When there th' Almighty scatter'd kings,

                   like Salmon's snow 'twas white.

15      God's hill is like to Bashan hill,

                   like Bashan hill for height.

16      Why do ye leap, ye mountains high?

                   this is the hill where God

          Desires to dwell; yea, God in it

                   for aye will make abode.

17      God's chariots twenty thousand are,

                   thousands of angels strong;

          In's holy place God is, as in

                   mount Sinai, them among.

18      Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious,

                   ascended up on high;

          And in triumph victorious led

                   captive captivity:

          Thou hast received gifts for men,

                   for such as did rebel;

          Yea, ev'n for them, that God the Lord

                   in midst of them might dwell.

19      Bless'd be the Lord, who is to us

                   of our salvation God;

          Who daily with his benefits

                   us plenteously doth load.

20      He of salvation is the God,

                   who is our God most strong;

          And unto God the Lord from death

                   the issues do belong.

21      But surely God shall wound the head

                   of those that are his foes;

          The hairy scalp of him that still

                   on in his trespass goes.

22      God said, My people I will bring

                   again from Bashan hill;

          Yea, from the sea's devouring depths

                   them bring again I will;

23      That in the blood of enemies

                   thy foot imbru'd may be,

          And of thy dogs dipp'd in the same

                   the tongues thou mayest see.

24      Thy goings they have seen, O God;

                   the steps of majesty

          Of my God, and my mighty King,

                   within the sanctuary.

25      Before went singers, players next

                   on instruments took way;

          And them among the damsels were

                   that did on timbrels play.

26      Within the congregations

                   bless God with one accord:

          From Isr'el's fountain do ye bless

                   and praise the mighty Lord.

27      With their prince, little Benjamin,

                   princes and council there

          Of Judah were, there Zabulon's

                   and Napht'li's princes were.

28      Thy God commands thy strength; make strong

                   what thou wrought'st for us, Lord.

29      For thy house at Jerusalem

                   kings shall thee gifts afford.

30      The spearmen's host, the multitude

                   of bulls, which fiercely look,

          Those calves which people have forth sent,

                   O Lord our God, rebuke,

          Till ev'ry one submit himself,

                   and silver pieces bring:

          The people that delight in war

                   disperse, O God and King.

31      Those that be princes great shall then

                   come out of Egypt lands;

          And Ethiopia to God

                   shall soon stretch out her hands.

32      O all ye kingdoms of the earth,

                   sing praises to this King;

          For he is Lord that ruleth all,

                   unto him praises sing.

33      To him that rides on heav'ns of heav'ns,

                   which he of old did found;

          Lo, he sends out his voice, a voice

                   in might that doth abound.

34      Strength unto God do ye ascribe;

                   for his excellency

          Is over Israel, his strength

                   is in the clouds most high.

35      Thou'rt from thy temple dreadful, Lord;

                   Isr'el's own God is he,

          Who gives his people strength and pow'r:

                   O let God blessed be.