1 ¶ Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those that 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 shall the wicked perish at 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 the righteous shall be glad; they shall rejoice before God; they shall dance with joy.

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 unto God, sing psalms unto his name; extol him that rides upon the heavens by his name JAH and rejoice 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 defender 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 sets the solitary in families; he brings out those who are bound with chains, but the rebellious dwell in a dry 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 thou didst go forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

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

8 T he earth shook, the heavens also dropped their rain at the presence of God; even Sinai itself was moved 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 T hou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, by which thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

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

10 T hy presence was in thy congregation; thou, O God, by thy goodness thou hast provided for the poor.

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

11 T he Lord shall give a word; great shall be the host of the evangelists thereof.

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

12 K ings of armies fled apace, and she that dwells in the house divided the spoil.

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

13 T hough ye be cast among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow 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 the kings that were in her, she became white as the snow in Salmon.

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

15 ¶ The mountain of Bashan is the mountain of God; the mountain of Bashan is a high mountain.

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

16 W hy leap ye, ye high mountains? This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

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 two thousand, thousands of angels; the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the sanctuary.

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 T hou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive; thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also that the LORD God might dwell among 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 daily lades us with benefits, even the God of our saving health. Selah.

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

20 H e that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto GOD the Lord belongs the way of escape from death.

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

21 S urely God shall smite the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such a one as goes on still in his trespasses.

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

22 ¶ The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again 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 hy foot shall be dipped in the blood of thine enemies and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

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 have seen thy ways, O God, even the ways of my God, my King, in 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 went before, the players on instruments followed after; in between them were the virgins playing with timbrels.

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

26 B less ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, ye of the lineage 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 was little Benjamin as their ruler, the princes of Judah in their congregation, 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 T hy God has commanded thy strength; confirm, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

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

29 F rom thy temple in Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

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

30 R eprehend the company of spearmen, the multitude of the strong, with the lords of the peoples, trampling them underfoot with their pieces of silver; Destroy thou the peoples that 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 soon stretch out her hands unto God.

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

32 ¶ Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord Selah:

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

33 T o him that rides upon the heavens of the heavens which were of old; behold, he shall send 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 ye strength unto God; his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

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

35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy sanctuaries; the God of Israel is he that gives strength and power unto 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!