Psalm 68
1 Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *
let those who hate him flee before him.
2 Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; *
as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at
the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *
let them also be merry and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;
exalt him who rides upon the heavens; *
YAHWEH is his Name, rejoice before him!
5 Father of orphans, defender of widows, *
God in his holy habitation!
6 God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners
into freedom; *
but the rebels shall live in dry places.
7 O God, when you went forth before your people, *
when you marched through the wilderness,
8 The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain,
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *
you refreshed the land when it was weary.
10 Your people found their home in it; *
in your goodness, O God, you have made provision
for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word; *
great was the company of women who bore the tidings:
12 “Kings with their armies are fleeing away; *
the women at home are dividing the spoils.”
13 Though you lingered among the sheepfolds, *
you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,
whose feathers are like green gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings, *
it was like snow falling in Zalmon.
15 O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan! *
O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountain,
at the hill which God chose for his resting place? *
truly, the Lord will dwell there for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
even thousands of thousands; *
the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.
18 You have gone up on high and led captivity captive;
you have received gifts even from your enemies, *
that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord day by day, *
the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
20 He is our God, the God of our salvation; *
God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
21 God shall crush the heads of his enemies, *
and the hairy scalp of those who go on still in their
wickedness.
22 The Lord has said, “I will bring them back from Bashan; *
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
23 That your foot may be dipped in blood, *
the tongues of your dogs in the blood of your enemies.”
24 They see your procession, O God, *
your procession into the sanctuary, my God and my King.
25 The singers go before, musicians follow after, *
in the midst of maidens playing upon the hand-drums.
26 Bless God in the congregation; *
bless the Lord, you that are of the fountain of Israel.
27 There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head;
the princes of Judah in a company; *
and the princes of Zebulon and Naphtali.
28 Send forth your strength, O God; *
establish, O God, what you have wrought for us.
29 Kings shall bring gifts to you, *
for your temple’s sake at Jerusalem.
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, *
and the peoples, a herd of wild bulls with its calves.
31 Trample down those who lust after silver; *
scatter the peoples that delight in war.
32 Let tribute be brought out of Egypt; *
let Ethiopia stretch out her hands to God.
33 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; *
sing praises to the Lord.
34 He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; *
he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.
35 Ascribe power to God; *
his majesty is over Israel;
his strength is in the skies.
36 How wonderful is God in his holy places! *
the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people!
Blessed be God!
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Image Credit: The Orphans, from “Illustrated London News,” 1867, William Luson Thomas
Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Open Access Collection – https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/777715
