Corpus Psalterium · Vol. II
Psalm XLVIII (48)
Cantillated — Processional Zion Praise
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 48 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
שִׁ֥יר מִ֝זְמוֹר לִבְנֵי־קֹֽרַח׃
Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד בְּעִ֥יר אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַר־קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the north sides, the city of the great King.
יְפֵ֥ה נוֹף֮ מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ כָּל־הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ הַר־צִ֭יּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵ֣י צָפ֑וֹן קִ֝רְיַ֗ת מֶ֣לֶךְ רָֽב׃
God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge.
אֱלֹהִ֥ים בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֶ֗יהָ נוֹדַ֥ע לְמִשְׂגָּֽב׃
For, behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together.
כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה הַ֭מְּלָכִים נֽוֹעֲד֑וּ עָבְר֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃
They saw it, then they were amazed. They were dismayed. They hurried away.
הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ כֵּ֣ן תָּמָ֑הוּ נִבְהֲל֥וּ נֶחְפָּֽזוּ׃
Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail.
רְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃
With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish.
בְּר֥וּחַ קָדִ֑ים תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר אֳנִיּ֥וֹת תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃
As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of Yahweh of Armies, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֨עְנוּ ׀ כֵּ֤ן רָאִ֗ינוּ בְּעִיר־יְהוָ֣ה צְ֭בָאוֹת בְּעִ֣יר אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֱלֹ֘הִ֤ים יְכוֹנְנֶ֖הָ עַד־עוֹלָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃
We have thought about your loving kindness, God, in the middle of your temple.
דִּמִּ֣ינוּ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ בְּ֝קֶ֗רֶב הֵיכָלֶֽךָ׃
As is your name, God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness.
כְּשִׁמְךָ֤ אֱלֹהִ֗ים כֵּ֣ן תְּ֭הִלָּתְךָ עַל־קַצְוֵי־אֶ֑רֶץ צֶ֝֗דֶק מָלְאָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.
יִשְׂמַ֤ח ׀ הַר־צִיּ֗וֹן תָּ֭גֵלְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת יְהוּדָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶֽיךָ׃
Walk about Zion, and go around her. Number its towers.
סֹ֣בּוּ צִ֭יּוֹן וְהַקִּיפ֑וּהָ סִ֝פְר֗וּ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ׃
Notice her bulwarks. Consider her palaces, that you may tell it to the next generation.
שִׁ֤יתוּ לִבְּכֶ֨ם ׀ לְֽחֵילָ֗ה פַּסְּג֥וּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֥עַן תְּ֝סַפְּר֗וּ לְד֣וֹר אַחֲרֽוֹן׃
For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.
כִּ֤י זֶ֨ה ׀ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֵינוּ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד ה֖וּא יְנַהֲגֵ֣נוּ עַל־מֽוּת׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Great is the LORD
Greatly to be praised
In the city of our God
His holy mountain
Beautiful in height
Joy of all the earth
Mount Zion
Far north
The city
of the great King
God is in her palaces
He is known
as a stronghold
Kings assembled
They came together
They saw
and were amazed
They trembled
They fled
Fear took hold
like a woman in labor
Great is the LORD
Greatly praised
In the city
of our God
Great is the LORD
Greatly praised
He will establish her
forever
With the east wind
You shattered the ships
Ships of Tarshish
broken apart
As we have heard
so we have seen
In the city
of the LORD of hosts
God establishes her
forever
We have thought
on Your steadfast love
In the midst
of Your temple
As Your name
so Your praise
To the ends
of the earth
Great is the LORD
Greatly praised
In the city
of our God
Great is the LORD
Greatly praised
Your right hand
full of righteousness
Let Mount Zion rejoice
Let Judah be glad
Because of Your judgments
Walk about Zion
Go around her
Count her towers
Set your heart
on her walls
Consider her strongholds
Tell the next generation
This is God
Our God
Forever
and ever
He will guide us
He will guide us
Great is the LORD
Greatly praised
In the city
of our God
Great is the LORD
Greatly praised
He will guide us
forever
He will guide us
forever
This is God
Our God
Forever
and ever
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.