Psalm 68

Genevan 36th/68th (O Mensch, bewein/Old 113th) 8.8.7.8.8.7.D. (Matthias Greiter, d. 1550; published in Straßburger Kirchenamt, 1525)

1 O God, arise! and by your might
let all your foes be put to flight,
with those that evil cherish:
2 As smoke before his dreadful ire,
as wax is molten by the fire,
so shall the wicked perish.
3 Now let the just with joyful voice
in God’s glorious name rejoice;
let them exalt before him!
4 Lift up your voice and sing aloud
to him who rides upon the clouds;
with songs of praise adore him.

5 A father to the fatherless,
defense of widows in distress,
is God in his dwelling place.
6 He gives a home to the lonely,
the captive receives liberty,
for bounteous is his grace.
7 O God, when you went on ahead
and through the barren desert led
the flock you had assembled,
8 you caused the earth to quake and cower;
the heavens let loose their  showers;
and you made Sinai tremble.

9 You with abundant rain, O LORD,
your weary heritage restored
and, as you had decided,
10 you let your people settle there;
you blessed them with your lavish care
and for the poor provided.
11 When God but spoke his mighty word,
great was the host whose shouts were heard:
12 “Kings are fleeing in despair!”
14 Before the Lord the kings all fled
like drifting snow on Zalmon spread
13 while women in the spoil share.

15 Proud Bashan, mount of many peaks,
16 God does not from your summit speak
nor makes you his own dwelling.
17 The LORD with thousands in his train
from Sinai to Mount Zion came
with chariot host excelling.
18 His glory filled the holy place,
e’en rebels bowed before his face;
God received the gifts they gave.
19 Blest be the Lord, who day by day
20 upholds us and is strong to save
from all danger and the grave.

21-23 I will bring back your enemies
from lands remote, from depths of sea,
and make all the earth tremble.
24-25 With harps and timbrels, choirs sing,
and maidens dance before their king,
as God comes to his temple.
26 In this great congregation’s throng
let God be praised in joyful song,
O Jacob’s generation.
27 There Benjamin, the smallest clan,
leads Naphtali and Zebulun,
Judah and all the nation.

28 Lord, let your glorious pow’r be known;
show us the strength on which your own
have in the past depended.
29 Because you have your temple here,
kings in Jerusalem appear
with gifts for you intended.
30 Rebuke the beasts among the reeds,
trample under foot those filled with greed,
all who in war take pleasure.
31 Let bronze be brought from Egypt’s land;
let Ethiopia stretch its hand
to God, the source of all treasure.

32 Praise God and shout his glory forth,
O kings and kingdoms of the earth!
In joyful song adore him.
33 Praise him who rides the ancient sky,
who thunders forth his battle cry;
let all bow down before him.
34 Proclaim his power and spread his fame,
for great in Israel is his name;
his might is in the heavens.
35 O awesome God, you from your throne
with power and glory bless your own.
To you all praise be given!

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