Psalms 68

1Unto the end, for them that shall be changed; for David.

1To the Overseer. --A Psalm, a song of David. Rise doth God--scattered are His enemies! And those hating Him flee from His face.

2Save me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto my soul.

2As the driving away of smoke Thou drivest away, As the melting of wax before fire, The wicked perish at the presence of God.

3I stick fast in the mire of the deep and there is no sure standing. I am come into the depth of the sea, and a tempest hath overwhelmed me.

3And the righteous rejoice, they exult before God, And they joy with gladness.

4I have laboured with crying; my jaws are become hoarse, my eyes have failed, whilst I hope in my God.

4Sing ye to God--praise His name, Raise up a highway for Him who is riding in deserts, In Jah <FI>is<Fi> His name, and exult before Him.

5They are multiplied above the hairs of my head, who hate me without cause. My enemies are grown strong who have wrongfully persecuted me: then did I pay that which I took not away.

5Father of the fatherless, and judge of the widows, <FI>Is<Fi> God in His holy habitation.

6O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my offences are not hidden from thee:

6God--causing the lonely to dwell at home, Bringing out bound ones into prosperity, Only--the refractory have inhabited a dry place.

7Let not them be ashamed for me, who look for thee, O Lord, the Lord of hosts. Let them not be confounded on my account, who seek thee, O God of Israel.

7O God, in Thy going forth before Thy people, In Thy stepping through the wilderness, Selah.

8Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

8The earth hath shaken, Yea, the heavens have dropped before God, This Sinai--before God, the God of Israel.

9I am become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to the sons of my mother.

9A shower of free-will gifts thou shakest out, O God. Thine inheritance, when it hath been weary, Thou hast established it.

10For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up: and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

10Thy company have dwelt in it, Thou preparest in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.

11And I covered my soul in fasting: and it was made a reproach to me.

11The Lord doth give the saying, The female proclaimers <FI>are<Fi> a numerous host.

12And I made haircloth my garment: and I became a byword to them.

12Kings of hosts flee utterly away, And a female inhabitant of the house apportioneth spoil.

13They that sat in the gate spoke against me: and they that drank wine made me their song.

13Though ye do lie between two boundaries, Wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.

14But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O Lord; for the time of thy good pleasure, O God. In the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

14When the Mighty spreadeth kings in it, It doth snow in Salmon.

15Draw me out of the mire, that I may not stick fast: deliver me from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15A hill of God <FI>is<Fi> the hill of Bashan, A hill of heights <FI>is<Fi> the hill of Bashan.

16Let not the tempest of water drown me, nor the deep water swallow me up: and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

16Why do ye envy, O high hills, The hill God hath desired for His seat? Jehovah also doth tabernacle for ever.

17Hear me, O Lord, for thy mercy is kind; look upon me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

17The chariots of God <FI>are<Fi> myriads, thousands of changes, The Lord <FI>is<Fi> among them, in Sinai, in the sanctuary.

18And turn not away thy face from thy servant: for I am in trouble, hear me speedily.

18Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast taken captive captivity, Thou hast taken gifts for men, That even the refractory may rest, O Jah God.

19Attend to my soul, and deliver it: save me because of my enemies.

19Blessed <FI>is<Fi> the Lord, day by day He layeth on us. God Himself <FI>is<Fi> our salvation. Selah.

20Thou knowest my reproach, and my confusion, and my shame.

20God Himself <FI>is<Fi> to us a God for deliverances, And Jehovah Lord hath the outgoings of death.

21In thy sight are all they that afflict me; my heart hath expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I found none.

21Only--God doth smite The head of His enemies, The hairy crown of a habitual walker in his guilt.

22And they gave me gall for my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22The Lord said: `From Bashan I bring back, I bring back from the depths of the sea.

23Let their table become as a snare before them, and a recompense, and a stumblingblock.

23So that thou dashest thy foot in blood, <FI>In the blood of<Fi> enemies--the tongue of Thy dogs.'

24Let their eyes be darkened that they see not; and their back bend thou down always.

24They have seen Thy goings, O God, Goings of my God, my king, in the sanctuary.

25Pour out thy indignation upon them: and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

25Singers have been before, Behind <FI>are<Fi> players on instruments, In the midst virgins playing with timbrels.

26Let their habitation be made desolate: and let there be none to dwell in their tabernacles.

26In assemblies bless ye God, The Lord--from the fountain of Israel.

27Because they have persecuted him whom thou hast smitten; and they have added to the grief of my wounds.

27There <FI>is<Fi> little Benjamin their ruler, Heads of Judah their defence, Heads of Zebulun--heads of Naphtali.

28Add thou iniquity upon their iniquity: and let them not come into thy justice.

28Thy God hath commanded thy strength, Be strong, O God, this Thou hast wrought for us.

29Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; and with the just let them not be written.

29Because of Thy temple at Jerusalem, To Thee do kings bring a present.

30But I am poor and sorrowful: thy salvation, O God, hath set me up.

30Rebuke a beast of the reeds, a company of bulls, With calves of the peoples, Each humbling himself with pieces of silver, Scatter Thou peoples delighting in conflicts.

31I will praise the name of God with a canticle: and I will magnify him with praise.

31Come do fat ones out of Egypt, Cush causeth her hands to run to God.

32And it shall please God better than a young calf, that bringeth forth horns and hoofs.

32Kingdoms of the earth, sing ye to God, Praise ye the Lord. Selah.

33Let the poor see and rejoice: seek ye God, and your soul shall live.

33To him who is riding on the heavens of the heavens of old, Lo, He giveth with His voice a strong voice.

34For the Lord hath heard the poor: and hath not despised his prisoners.

34Ascribe ye strength to God, Over Israel <FI>is<Fi> His excellency, and His strength in the clouds.

35Let the heavens and the earth praise him; the sea, and every thing that creepeth therein.

35Fearful, O God, out of Thy sanctuaries, The God of Israel Himself, Giving strength and might to the people. Blessed <FI>is<Fi> God!

36For God will save Sion, and the cities of Juda shall be built up. And they shall dwell there, and acquire it by inheritance.

36(not in this translation)

37And the seed of his servants shall possess it; and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

37(not in this translation)