Corpus Psalterium · Vol. III
Psalm LXVIII (68)
Cantillated — Processional Victory
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 68 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ לְדָוִ֗ד מִזְמ֥וֹר שִֽׁיר׃
Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.
יָק֣וּם אֱ֭לֹהִים יָפ֣וּצוּ אוֹיְבָ֑יו וְיָנ֥וּסוּ מְ֝שַׂנְאָ֗יו מִפָּנָֽיו׃
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
כְּהִנְדֹּ֥ף עָשָׁ֗ן תִּ֫נְדֹּ֥ף כְּהִמֵּ֣ס דּ֭וֹנַג מִפְּנֵי־אֵ֑שׁ יֹאבְד֥וּ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים מִפְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃
But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
וְֽצַדִּיקִ֗ים יִשְׂמְח֣וּ יַֽ֭עַלְצוּ לִפְנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִ֗ים וְיָשִׂ֥ישׂוּ בְשִׂמְחָֽה׃
Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him!
שִׁ֤ירוּ ׀ לֵֽאלֹהִים֮ זַמְּר֪וּ שְׁ֫מ֥וֹ סֹ֡לּוּ לָרֹכֵ֣ב בָּ֭עֲרָבוֹת בְּיָ֥הּ שְׁמ֗וֹ וְעִלְז֥וּ לְפָנָֽיו׃
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
אֲבִ֣י יְ֭תוֹמִים וְדַיַּ֣ן אַלְמָנ֑וֹת אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים בִּמְע֥וֹן קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ מ֘וֹשִׁ֤יב יְחִידִ֨ים ׀ בַּ֗יְתָה מוֹצִ֣יא אֲ֭סִירִים בַּכּוֹשָׁר֑וֹת אַ֥ךְ ס֝וֹרֲרִ֗ים שָׁכְנ֥וּ צְחִיחָֽה׃
God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah.
אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים בְּ֭צֵאתְךָ לִפְנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֑ךָ בְּצַעְדְּךָ֖ בִֽישִׁימ֣וֹן סֶֽלָה׃
The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
אֶ֤רֶץ רָעָ֨שָׁה ׀ אַף־שָׁמַ֣יִם נָטְפוּ֮ מִפְּנֵ֪י אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים זֶ֥ה סִינַ֑י מִפְּנֵ֥י אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.
גֶּ֣שֶׁם נְ֭דָבוֹת תָּנִ֣יף אֱלֹהִ֑ים נַחֲלָתְךָ֥ וְ֝נִלְאָ֗ה אַתָּ֥ה כֽוֹנַנְתָּֽהּ׃
Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
חַיָּתְךָ֥ יָֽשְׁבוּ־בָ֑הּ תָּ֤כִ֥ין בְּטוֹבָתְךָ֖ לֶעָנִ֣י אֱלֹהִֽים׃
The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
אֲדֹנָ֥י יִתֶּן־אֹ֑מֶר הַֽ֝מְבַשְּׂר֗וֹת צָבָ֥א רָֽב׃
“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder,
מַלְכֵ֣י צְ֭בָאוֹת יִדֹּד֣וּן יִדֹּד֑וּן וּנְוַת בַּ֝֗יִת תְּחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל׃
while you sleep among the camp fires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.
אִֽם־תִּשְׁכְּבוּן֮ בֵּ֪ין שְׁפַ֫תָּ֥יִם כַּנְפֵ֣י י֭וֹנָה נֶחְפָּ֣ה בַכֶּ֑סֶף וְ֝אֶבְרוֹתֶ֗יהָ בִּֽירַקְרַ֥ק חָרֽוּץ׃
When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.
בְּפָ֘רֵ֤שׂ שַׁדַּ֓י מְלָ֘כִ֤ים בָּ֗הּ תַּשְׁלֵ֥ג בְּצַלְמֽוֹן׃
The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.
הַר־אֱ֭לֹהִים הַר־בָּשָׁ֑ן הַ֥ר גַּ֝בְנֻנִּ֗ים הַר־בָּשָֽׁן׃
Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever.
לָ֤מָּה ׀ תְּֽרַצְּדוּן֮ הָרִ֪ים גַּבְנֻ֫נִּ֥ים הָהָ֗ר חָמַ֣ד אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְשִׁבְתּ֑וֹ אַף־יְ֝הוָ֗ה יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָנֶֽצַח׃
The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.
רֶ֤כֶב אֱלֹהִ֗ים רִבֹּתַ֣יִם אַלְפֵ֣י שִׁנְאָ֑ן אֲדֹנָ֥י בָ֝֗ם סִינַ֥י בַּקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among people, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there.
עָ֘לִ֤יתָ לַמָּר֨וֹם ׀ שָׁ֘בִ֤יתָ שֶּׁ֗בִי לָקַ֣חְתָּ מַ֭תָּנוֹת בָּאָדָ֑ם וְאַ֥ף ס֝וֹרְרִ֗ים לִשְׁכֹּ֤ן ׀ יָ֬הּ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah.
בָּ֤ר֣וּךְ אֲדֹנָי֮ י֤וֹם ׀ י֥וֹם יַֽעֲמָס־לָ֗נוּ הָ֘אֵ֤ל יְֽשׁוּעָתֵ֬נוּ סֶֽלָה׃
God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
הָ֤אֵ֣ל ׀ לָנוּ֮ אֵ֤ל לְֽמוֹשָׁ֫ע֥וֹת וְלֵיהוִ֥ה אֲדֹנָ֑י לַ֝מָּ֗וֶת תּוֹצָאֽוֹת׃
But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
אַךְ־אֱלֹהִ֗ים יִמְחַץ֮ רֹ֤אשׁ אֹ֫יְבָ֥יו קָדְקֹ֥ד שֵׂעָ֑ר מִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בַּאֲשָׁמָֽיו׃
The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea,
אָמַ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי מִבָּשָׁ֣ן אָשִׁ֑יב אָ֝שִׁ֗יב מִֽמְּצֻל֥וֹת יָֽם׃
that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
לְמַ֤עַן ׀ תִּֽמְחַ֥ץ רַגְלְךָ֗ בְּ֫דָ֥ם לְשׁ֥וֹן כְּלָבֶ֑יךָ מֵאֹיְבִ֥ים מִנֵּֽהוּ׃
They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
רָא֣וּ הֲלִיכוֹתֶ֣יךָ אֱלֹהִ֑ים הֲלִ֘יכ֤וֹת אֵלִ֖י מַלְכִּ֣י בַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines,
קִדְּמ֣וּ שָׁ֭רִים אַחַ֣ר נֹגְנִ֑ים בְּת֥וֹךְ עֲ֝לָמ֗וֹת תּוֹפֵפֽוֹת׃
“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
בְּֽ֭מַקְהֵלוֹת בָּרְכ֣וּ אֱלֹהִ֑ים יְ֝הוָ֗ה מִמְּק֥וֹר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
שָׁ֤ם בִּנְיָמִ֨ן ׀ צָעִ֡יר רֹדֵ֗ם שָׂרֵ֣י יְ֭הוּדָה רִגְמָתָ֑ם שָׂרֵ֥י זְ֝בֻל֗וּן שָׂרֵ֥י נַפְתָּלִֽי׃
Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
צִוָּ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ עֻ֫זֶּ֥ךָ עוּזָּ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים ז֝֗וּ פָּעַ֥לְתָּ לָּֽנוּ׃
Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.
מֵֽ֭הֵיכָלֶךָ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם לְךָ֤ יוֹבִ֖ילוּ מְלָכִ֣ים שָֽׁי׃
Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
גְּעַ֨ר חַיַּ֪ת קָנֶ֡ה עֲדַ֤ת אַבִּירִ֨ים ׀ בְּעֶגְלֵ֬י עַמִּ֗ים מִתְרַפֵּ֥ס בְּרַצֵּי־כָ֑סֶף בִּזַּ֥ר עַ֝מִּ֗ים קְרָב֥וֹת יֶחְפָּֽצוּ׃
Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.
יֶאֱתָ֣יוּ חַ֭שְׁמַנִּים מִנִּ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם כּ֥וּשׁ תָּרִ֥יץ יָ֝דָ֗יו לֵאלֹהִֽים׃
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord—Selah—
מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָ֭אָרֶץ שִׁ֣ירוּ לֵאלֹהִ֑ים זַמְּר֖וּ אֲדֹנָ֣י סֶֽלָה׃
to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
לָ֭רֹכֵב בִּשְׁמֵ֣י שְׁמֵי־קֶ֑דֶם הֵ֥ן יִתֵּ֥ן בְּ֝קוֹלוֹ ק֣וֹל עֹֽז׃
Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.
תְּנ֥וּ עֹ֗ז לֵֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים עַֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל גַּאֲוָת֑וֹ וְ֝עֻזּ֗וֹ בַּשְּׁחָקִֽים׃
You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!
נ֤וֹרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֗ים מִֽמִּקְדָּ֫שֶׁ֥יךָ אֵ֤ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל ה֤וּא נֹתֵ֨ן ׀ עֹ֖ז וְתַעֲצֻמ֥וֹת לָעָ֗ם בָּר֥וּךְ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
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.
Let God arise
Let His enemies scatter
(Ah—ah—ah—ah)
God arises
God arises
Let His enemies scatter
Let His enemies scatter
God arises
God arises
The righteous rejoice
The righteous rejoice
As smoke is driven
You drive them
As wax melts
Before fire
So the wicked perish
Before God
But the righteous rejoice
They exult before Him
Sing to God
Sing His name
Father of the fatherless
Judge of the widow
God in His holy dwelling
He sets the lonely in a home
He leads prisoners out
But the rebellious
Dwell in dry land
O God You went before Your people
You marched through the wilderness
The earth shook
The heavens poured
Sinai trembled
Before God
God arises
God arises
Kings flee away
Kings flee away
God arises
God arises
He reigns in power
He reigns in power
The chariots of God are thousands
The Lord is among them
You ascended on high
You led captivity captive
You received gifts among men
Even the rebellious
God will strike
The head of His enemies
They have seen
Your procession
Singers go before
Musicians follow
In the midst of tambourines
Bless God
Bless God
Kingdoms of the earth
Sing to God
Sing to God
Sing to God
He rides the heavens
He sends His voice
A mighty voice
A mighty voice
Ascribe power to God
Awesome is God
From His sanctuary
He gives strength
He gives power
Blessed be God
Blessed be God
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.