1 G od is beginning to arise, and His enemies to scatter; let them also who hate Him flee before Him!

May God rise up. May those who hate Him be divided. And may they run away from Him.

2 A s smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish before the presence of God.

Drive them away like smoke in the wind. Let the sinful be destroyed before God like a candle melts by the fire.

3 B ut let the righteous be glad; let them be in high spirits and glory before God, yes, let them rejoice!

But let those who are right and good be glad. Let them be happy before God. Yes, let them be full of joy.

4 S ing to God, sing praises to His name, cast up a highway for Him Who rides through the deserts—His name is the Lord—be in high spirits and glory before Him!

Sing to God. Sing praises to His name. Make a road for Him Who goes through the deserts. The Lord is His name. Be full of joy before Him.

5 A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation.

God in His holy house is a father to those who have no father. And He keeps the women safe whose husbands have died.

6 G od places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

God makes a home for those who are alone. He leads men out of prison into happiness and well-being. But those who fight against Him live in an empty desert.

7 O God, when You went forth before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness— Selah!—

O God, when You went out before Your people, when You walked through the desert,

8 T he earth trembled, the heavens also poured down at the presence of God; yonder Sinai quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

the earth shook. The heavens poured down rain before God. And Sinai shook before God, the God of Israel.

9 Y ou, O God, did send a plentiful rain; You did restore and confirm Your heritage when it languished and was weary.

You sent a heavy rain, O God. You brought life back to Your promised land when it was dry.

10 Y our flock found a dwelling place in it; You, O God, in Your goodness did provide for the poor and needy.

Your people made it their home. O God, You gave the poor what they needed because You are good.

11 T he Lord gives the word; the women who bear and publish are a great host.

The Lord gives the Word. And the women who tell the good news are many.

12 T he kings of the enemies’ armies, they flee, they flee! She who tarries at home divides the spoil.

The kings of armies run. They run away. And she who stays at home divides the riches.

13 T hough you may lie among the sheepfolds the wings of a dove are covered with silver, its pinions excessively green with gold.

When you lie down among the sheep, you are like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and the end of its wings with shining gold.

14 W hen the Almighty scattered kings in, it was as when it snows on Zalmon.

When the All-powerful divided the kings there, snow was falling in Zalmon.

15 I s Mount Bashan the high mountain of summits, Mount Bashan the mount of God?

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan. A mountain of many high tops is the mountain of Bashan.

16 W hy do you look with grudging and envy, you many-peaked mountains, at the mountain which God has desired for His dwelling place? Yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.

O mountains of many high tops, why do you look with jealousy at the mountain which God has chosen for His home? For sure, the Lord will live there forever.

17 T he chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them as He was in Sinai, in the Holy Place (the sanctuary in Jerusalem).

The war-wagons of God are 20, 000, even thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, as at Sinai, in the holy place.

18 Y ou have ascended on high. You have led away captive a train of vanquished foes; You have received gifts of men, yes, of the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell there with them.

You have gone up on high. You have taken those who were held with You. You have received gifts of men, even among those who fought against You. So the Lord God may live there with them.

19 B lessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah!

Honor and thanks be to the Lord, Who carries our heavy loads day by day. He is the God Who saves us.

20 G od is to us a God of deliverances and salvation; and to God the Lord belongs escape from death.

Our God is a God Who sets us free. The way out of death belongs to God the Lord.

21 B ut God will shatter the heads of His enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as goes on still in his trespasses and guilty ways.

But God will break the head of those who hate Him, the hair-covered head of him who goes on in his sins.

22 T he Lord said, I will bring back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the Sea,

The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan. I will bring them back from the bottom of the sea.

23 T hat you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the foe.

So your feet may crush them in blood. And the tongue of your dogs may have a share of those who hate you.”

24 T hey see Your goings, O God, even the of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

They have seen Your people walking together, O God. They have seen the people of my God and King walking into the holy place.

25 T he singers go in front, the players on instruments last; between them the maidens are playing on tambourines.

Those who sing are in front. Those who play music are behind. And young women who beat timbrels are between.

26 B less, give thanks, and gratefully praise God in full congregations, even the Lord, O you who are from the fountain of Israel.

Give thanks to God in the meetings of worship. Give thanks to the Lord, you who are of the family of Israel.

27 T here is little Benjamin in the lead, the princes of Judah and their company, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

There is young Benjamin leading them. The rulers of Judah are among the people, and the rulers of Zebulun, and the rulers of Naphtali.

28 Y our God has commanded your strength; O God, display Your might and strengthen what You have wrought for us!

Your God has called for your strength. Show Your strength, O God, Who has acted for us.

29 f or Your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bring gifts to You.

Kings will bring gifts to You because of Your holy house at Jerusalem.

30 R ebuke the wild beasts dwelling among the reeds, the herd of bulls (the leaders) with the calves of the peoples; trample underfoot those who lust for tribute money; scatter the peoples who delight in war.

Speak sharp words to the wild animals in the tall grass by the river, the group of bulls with the calves of the people. Walk on those who desire pieces of silver. Divide the people who have joy in war.

31 P rinces shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

Princes will come from Egypt. Ethiopia will hurry to put her hands out to God.

32 S ing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord! Selah!

Sing to God, O nations of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord.

33 t o Him Who rides upon the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, He sends forth His voice, His mighty voice.

Sing to Him Who sits upon the heavens, the heavens of old. Listen, He sends out His voice, His powerful voice.

34 A scribe power and strength to God; His majesty is over Israel, and His strength and might are in the skies.

Tell of the power of God. His great power is over Israel and His strength is in the sky.

35 O God, awe-inspiring, profoundly impressive, and terrible are You out of Your holy places; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and fullness of might to His people. Blessed be God!

O God, You are honored with fear as You come from Your holy place. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Honor and thanks be to God!