[68:1] God rises up and scatters his enemies. Those who hate him run away in defeat.
[68:2] As smoke is blown away, so he drives them off; as wax melts in front of the fire, so do the wicked perish in God's presence.
[68:3] But the righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy.
[68:4] Sing to God, sing praises to his name; prepare a way for him who rides on the clouds. His name is the Lord—be glad in his presence!
[68:5] God, who lives in his sacred Temple, cares for orphans and protects widows.
[68:6] He gives the lonely a home to live in and leads prisoners out into happy freedom, but rebels will have to live in a desolate land.
[68:7] O God, when you led your people, when you marched across the desert,
[68:8] the earth shook, and the sky poured down rain, because of the coming of the God of Sinai, the coming of the God of Israel.
[68:9] You caused abundant rain to fall and restored your worn-out land;
[68:10] your people made their home there; in your goodness you provided for the poor.
[68:11] The Lord gave the command, and many women carried the news:
[68:12] “Kings and their armies are running away!” The women at home divided what was captured:
[68:13] figures of doves covered with silver, whose wings glittered with fine gold. (Why did some of you stay among the sheep pens on the day of battle?)
[68:14] When Almighty God scattered the kings on Mount Zalmon, he caused snow to fall there.
[68:15] What a mighty mountain is Bashan, a mountain of many peaks!
[68:16] Why from your mighty peaks do you look with scorn on the mountain on which God chose to live? The Lord will live there forever!
[68:17] With his many thousands of mighty chariots the Lord comes from Sinai into the holy place.
[68:18] He goes up to the heights, taking many captives with him; he receives gifts from rebellious people. The Lord God will live there.
[68:19] Praise the Lord, who carries our burdens day after day; he is the God who saves us.
[68:20] Our God is a God who saves; he is the Lord, our Lord, who rescues us from death.
[68:21] God will surely break the heads of his enemies, of those who persist in their sinful ways.
[68:22] The Lord has said, “I will bring your enemies back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the ocean,
[68:23] so that you may wade in their blood, and your dogs may lap up as much as they want.”
[68:24] O God, your march of triumph is seen by all, the procession of God, my king, into his sanctuary.
[68:25] The singers are in front, the musicians are behind, in between are the young women beating the tambourines.
[68:26] “Praise God in the meeting of his people; praise the Lord, all you descendants of Jacob!”
[68:27] First comes Benjamin, the smallest tribe, then the leaders of Judah with their group, followed by the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
[68:28] Show your power, O God, the power you have used on our behalf
[68:29] from your Temple in Jerusalem, where kings bring gifts to you.
[68:30] Rebuke Egypt, that wild animal in the reeds; rebuke the nations, that herd of bulls with their calves, until they all bow down and offer you their silver. Scatter those people who love to make war!
[68:31] Ambassadors will come from Egypt; the Ethiopians will raise their hands in prayer to God.
[68:32] Sing to God, kingdoms of the world, sing praise to the Lord,
[68:33] to him who rides in the sky, the ancient sky. Listen to him shout with a mighty roar.
[68:34] Proclaim God's power; his majesty is over Israel, his might is in the skies.
[68:35] How awesome is God as he comes from his sanctuary— the God of Israel! He gives strength and power to his people. Praise God!