¹God! Arise with awesome power,

and every one of your enemies will scatter in fear!

²Chase them away—all these God-haters.

Blow them away as a puff of smoke.

Melt them away like wax in the fire.

One good look at you and the wicked vanish.

³But let all the righteous be glad!

Yes, let them all rejoice in your presence

and be carried away with gladness.

Let them laugh and be radiant with joy!

⁴Let them sing their celebration-songs

for the coming of the cloud rider whose name is Yah!

^5-6To the fatherless he is a father.

To the widow he is a champion friend.

The lonely he makes part of a family.

The prisoners he leads into prosperity until they sing for joy.

This is our Holy God in his Holy Place!

But for the rebels there is heartache and despair.

⁷O Lord, it was you who marched in front of your people,

leading them through the wasteland.

⁸The earth shook beneath your feet; the heavens filled with clouds

before the presence of the God of Sinai.

The sacred mountain shook at the sight of the face of Israel’s God.

⁹You, O God, sent the reviving rain upon your weary inheritance,

showers of blessing to refresh it.

¹⁰So there your people settled.[#68:10 Or “For you live among them [in community].” The Hebrew is uncertain.]

And in your kindness you provided the poor with abundance.

¹¹God Almighty declares the word of the gospel with power,[#68:11 As translated from the Aramaic.]

and the warring women of Zion deliver its message:

¹²“The conquering legions have themselves been conquered.

Look at them flee!”

Now Zion’s women are left to gather the spoils.

¹³When you sleep between sharpened stakes,[#68:13 The Aramaic word shaphya can be translated “sharpened stakes” or “thorns.” This is an obvious prophecy of the cross and our union with Christ as he was crucified.]

I see you sparkling like silver and glistening like gold,

covered by the beautiful wings of a dove!

¹⁴When the Almighty found a king for himself,

it became white as snow in his shade.

^15-16O huge, magnificent mountain,

you are the mighty kingdom of God!

All the other peaks, though impressive and imposing,

look with envy on you, Mount Zion!

For Zion is the mountain where God has chosen to live forever.

¹⁷Look! The mighty chariots of God!

Ten thousands upon ten thousands,

more than anyone could ever number.

God is at the front,

leading them all from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary

with the radiance of holiness upon him.

¹⁸He ascends into the heavenly heights,

taking his many captured ones with him,

leading them in triumphal procession.

And gifts were given to men, even the once rebellious,

so that they may dwell with Yah.

¹⁹What a glorious God![#68:19 The Aramaic is Maryah , the Aramaic form of or Lord .]

He gives us salvation over and over,

then daily he carries our burdens!

²⁰Our God is a mighty God who saves us over and over!

For the Lord, Yahweh , rescues us

from the ways of death many times.

²¹But he will crush every enemy, shattering their strength.

He will make heads roll

for they refuse to repent of their stubborn, sinful ways.

²²I hear the Lord God saying to all the enemies of his people,

“You’d better come out of your hiding places,

all of you who are doing your best to stay far away from me.

Don’t you know there’s no place to hide?

²³For my people will be the conquerors;

they will soon have you under their feet.

They will crush you until there is nothing left!”

²⁴O God, my King, your triumphal processions

keep moving onward in holiness;

you’re moving onward toward the Holy Place!

²⁵Leaders in front, then musicians,[#68:25 As translated from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is “Singers in front.”]

with young maidens in between, striking their tambourines.

²⁶And they sing, “Let all God’s princely people rejoice!

Let all the congregations bring their blessing to God, saying,

‘The Lord of the fountain! The Lord of the fountain of life!

The Lord of the fountain of Israel!’ ”

²⁷Astonishingly, it’s the favored youth leading the way:[#68:27 The Hebrew includes the names of four sons of Jacob, representing four tribes. Benjamin, the youngest son, means “son of my right hand” or “the favored one.” Judah means “praise.” Zebulon’s name is the word for “exalted.” Naphtali means “obtained by wrestling.” Each name speaks of a princely group and is used here poetically not only for Israel but for all of God’s “princely people” in this holy procession of worship.]

princes of praise in their royal robes

and exalted princes are among them,

along with princes who have wrestled with God.

^28-29Display your strength, God, and we’ll be strong![#68:28–29 The Great Bible translated by Miles Coverdale (1488–1569) translates this as “Your God has sent forth strength for you.”]

For your miracles have made us who we are.

Lord, do it again

and parade from your temple your mighty power.

By your command even kings will bring gifts to you.

³⁰God, rebuke the beast-life that hides within us![#68:30 Literal Hebrew is “rebuke the beasts in the reeds.”]

Rebuke those who claim to be “strong ones,”

who lurk within the congregation

and abuse the people out of their love for money.

God scatters the people who are spoiling for a fight.

³¹Africa will send her noble envoys to you, O God.

They will come running, stretching out their hands in love to you.

³²Let all the nations of the earth sing songs of praise to Almighty God!

Go ahead, all you nations—sing your praise to the Lord!

³³Make music for the one who strides the ancient skies.

Listen to his thunderous voice of might split open the heavens.

³⁴Give it up for God, for he alone has all the strength and power!

Proclaim his majesty! For his glory shines down on Israel.

His mighty strength soars in the clouds of glory.

³⁵God, we are consumed with awe, trembling before you

as your glory streams from your Holy Place.

The God of power shares his mighty strength with Israel

and with all his people.

God, we give our highest praise to you!