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(A psalm and a song by David for the music leader.)

God Will Win the Battle

Do something, God!
Scatter your hateful enemies.
    Make them turn and run.
Scatter them like smoke!
When you come near,
    make them melt
    like wax in a fire.
But let your people be happy
    and celebrate because of you.

Our God, you are the one
who rides on the clouds,[a]
    and we praise you.
Your name is the Lord,
and we celebrate
    as we worship you.

Our God, from your sacred home
you take care of orphans
    and protect widows.
You find families
    for those who are lonely.
You set prisoners free
    and let them prosper,[b]
but all who rebel will live
    in a scorching desert.

You set your people free,
and you led them
    through the desert.
(A) God of Israel,
the earth trembled,
    and rain poured down.
You alone are the God
    who rules from Mount Sinai.
When your land was thirsty,
you sent showers
    to refresh it.
10 Your people settled there,
and you were generous
    to everyone in need.

11 You gave the command, Lord,
and a chorus of women told
    what had happened:
12 “Kings and their armies
    retreated and ran,
and everything they left
    is now being divided.
13 And for those who stayed back
    to guard the sheep,
there are metal doves
with silver-coated wings
    and shiny gold feathers.”

14 God All-Powerful, you scattered
the kings like snow falling
    on Mount Zalmon.[c]

15 Our Lord and our God,
Bashan is a mighty mountain
    covered with peaks.
16 Why is it jealous of Zion,
the mountain you chose
    as your home forever?

17 When you, Lord God, appeared
    to your people[d] at Sinai,
you came with thousands
    of mighty chariots.
18 (B) When you climbed
    the high mountain,
you took prisoners with you
    and were given gifts.
Your enemies didn't want you
to live there,
    but they gave you gifts.

19 We praise you, Lord God!
You treat us with kindness
    day after day,
    and you rescue us.
20 You always protect us
    and save us from death.

21 Our Lord and our God,
your terrible enemies
    are ready for war,[e]
but you will crush
    their skulls.
22 You promised to bring them
from Bashan
    and from the deepest sea.
23 Then we could wash our feet
    in their blood,
and our dogs could chew
    on their bones.

24 We have seen crowds marching
to your place of worship,
    our God and King.
25 Singers come first,
    and then the musicians,
surrounded by young women
    playing tambourines.
26 They come shouting,
“People of Israel,
    praise the Lord God!”
27 The small tribe of Benjamin
    leads the way,
followed by the leaders
    from Judah.
Then come the leaders
    from Zebulun and Naphtali.

28 Our God, show your strength!
    Show us once again.
29 Then kings will bring gifts
to your temple
    in Jerusalem.[f]

30 Punish that animal
    that lives in the swamp![g]
Punish that nation
whose leaders and people
    are like wild bulls.
Make them come crawling
    with gifts of silver.
Scatter those nations
    that enjoy making war.[h]
31 Force the Egyptians to bring
    gifts of bronze;
make the Ethiopians[i] hurry
    to offer presents.[j]

32 Now sing praises to God!
Every kingdom on earth,
    sing to the Lord!
33 Praise the one who rides
    across the ancient skies;
listen as he speaks
    with a mighty voice.

34 Tell about God's power!
He is honored in Israel,
    and he rules the skies.
35 The God of Israel is fearsome
    in his temple,
and he makes us strong.
    Let's praise our God!

Footnotes

  1. 68.4 on the clouds: Or “across the desert.”
  2. 68.6 and let them prosper: Or “and give them a song.”
  3. 68.14 Mount Zalmon: The location of this mountain is not known.
  4. 68.17 to your people: Or “in all your holiness” or “in your holy place.”
  5. 68.21 are ready for war: The Hebrew text has “have long hair,” which probably refers to the ancient custom of wearing long hair on special occasions, such as a “holy war.”
  6. 68.28,29 Our God … Jerusalem: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 28,29.
  7. 68.30 animal … swamp: Probably Egypt.
  8. 68.30 war: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 30.
  9. 68.31 the Ethiopians: The Hebrew text has “the people of Cush,” which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.
  10. 68.31 presents: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 31.

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