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Psalm 46-48
Easy-to-Read Version
Psalm 46-48
Easy-to-Read Version
To the director: A song from the Korah family. Use the alamoth.[a] A song.
46 God is our protection and source of strength.
He is always ready to help us in times of trouble.
2 So we are not afraid when the earth quakes
and the mountains fall into the sea.
3 We are not afraid when the seas become rough and dark
and the mountains tremble. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams bring happiness to God’s city,
to the holy city of God Most High.
5 God is in that city, so it will never be destroyed.
He is there to help even before sunrise.
6 Nations will shake with fear and kingdoms will fall
when God shouts and makes the earth move.
7 The Lord All-Powerful is with us.
The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah
8 Look at the powerful things the Lord has done.
See the awesome things he has done on earth.
9 He stops wars all over the world.
He breaks the soldiers’ bows, shatters their spears, and burns their shields.[b]
10 God says, “Stop fighting and know that I am God!
I am the one who defeats the nations;
I am the one who controls the world.”
11 The Lord All-Powerful is with us.
The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah
To the director: A song from the Korah family.
47 Everyone, clap your hands.
Shout with joy to God!
2 The Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the great King over all the earth.
3 He helped us defeat other nations.
He put those people under our control.
4 He chose our land for us.
He chose that wonderful land for Jacob, the one he loved. Selah
5 The Lord God goes up to his throne
at the sound of the trumpet and horn.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 God is the King of the whole world.
Sing songs of praise![c]
8 God sits on his holy throne;
he rules all the nations.
9 The leaders of the nations have come together
with the people of the God of Abraham.
All the rulers of the world belong to God.
He is over them all!
A song of praise from the Korah family.
48 The Lord is great!
He is praised throughout the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 His city is such a pleasant place.
It brings joy to people from around the world.
Mount Zion is the true mountain of God.[d]
It is the city of the great King.
3 In the palaces of that city,
God is known as the fortress.
4 Once some kings met together
and planned an attack against this city.
They marched toward the city,
5 but when they saw it, they were amazed.
They all panicked and ran away.
6 Fear grabbed them;
they trembled like a woman giving birth.
7 God, with a strong east wind,
you wrecked their big ships.
8 Yes, we heard the stories about your power.
But we also saw it in the city of our God, the city of the Lord All-Powerful.
God makes that city strong forever. Selah
9 God, in your Temple we remember your loving kindness.
10 Your name is known everywhere, God,
and people throughout the earth praise you.
You have shown that you do what is right.
11 Mount Zion is happy,
and the towns of Judah rejoice, because your decisions are fair.
12 Walk around Jerusalem,
and count its towers.
13 Look at the tall walls,
and see the palaces.
Then you can tell the next generation about them.
14 This God is our God forever and ever.
He will lead us from now to the end of time!
Footnotes
- Psalm 46:1 Psalm 46 alamoth This might be a musical instrument, a special way of tuning an instrument, a music style, or one of the groups that played harps in the Temple orchestra. See 1 Chron. 15:21.
- Psalm 46:9 shields Or “chariots.”
- Psalm 47:7 songs of praise Literally, “ maskil.” See “maskil” in the Word List.
- Psalm 48:2 true mountain of God Literally, “the summit of Zaphon.” In Canaanite stories, Mt. Zaphon was where the gods lived.
Psalm 46-48
New International Version
Psalm 46-48
New International Version
Psalm 46[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.
1 God is our refuge(A) and strength,(B)
an ever-present(C) help(D) in trouble.(E)
2 Therefore we will not fear,(F) though the earth give way(G)
and the mountains fall(H) into the heart of the sea,(I)
3 though its waters roar(J) and foam(K)
and the mountains quake(L) with their surging.[c]
4 There is a river(M) whose streams(N) make glad the city of God,(O)
the holy place where the Most High(P) dwells.(Q)
5 God is within her,(R) she will not fall;(S)
God will help(T) her at break of day.
6 Nations(U) are in uproar,(V) kingdoms(W) fall;
he lifts his voice,(X) the earth melts.(Y)
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,(AD)
the desolations(AE) he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars(AF) cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow(AG) and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.(AH)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(AI)
I will be exalted(AJ) among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 47[e]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
2 For the Lord Most High(AO) is awesome,(AP)
the great King(AQ) over all the earth.
3 He subdued(AR) nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance(AS) for us,
the pride of Jacob,(AT) whom he loved.[f]
5 God has ascended(AU) amid shouts of joy,(AV)
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(AW)
6 Sing praises(AX) to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;(AY)
sing to him a psalm(AZ) of praise.
8 God reigns(BA) over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.(BB)
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[g] of the earth belong to God;(BC)
he is greatly exalted.(BD)
Psalm 48[h]
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Great is the Lord,(BE) and most worthy of praise,(BF)
in the city of our God,(BG) his holy mountain.(BH)
2 Beautiful(BI) in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon[i](BJ) is Mount Zion,(BK)
the city of the Great King.(BL)
3 God is in her citadels;(BM)
he has shown himself to be her fortress.(BN)
4 When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,(BO)
5 they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.(BP)
6 Trembling seized(BQ) them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.(BR)
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish(BS)
shattered by an east wind.(BT)
8 As we have heard,
so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
forever.[j](BU)
9 Within your temple, O God,
we meditate(BV) on your unfailing love.(BW)
10 Like your name,(BX) O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;(BY)
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.(BZ)
12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,(CA)
13 consider well her ramparts,(CB)
view her citadels,(CC)
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.(CD)
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide(CE) even to the end.
Footnotes
- Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
- Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
- Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
- Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
- Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 47:9 Or shields
- Psalm 48:1 In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15.
- Psalm 48:2 Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.
- Psalm 48:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
New International Version (NIV) 
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