For the music director; by David, a psalm, a song.
68:1 God springs into action! His enemies scatter; his adversaries run from him.
68:2 As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.
68:3 But the godly are happy; they rejoice before God and are overcome with joy.
68:4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides on the clouds! For the Lord is his name! Rejoice before him!
68:5 He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace.
68:6 God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes; he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity. But sinful rebels live in the desert.
68:7 O God, when you lead your people into battle, when you march through the desert, (Selah)
68:8 the earth shakes, yes, the heavens pour down rain before God, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
68:9 O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, you sustain them,
68:10 for you live among them. You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God.
68:11 The sovereign Master speaks; many, many women spread the good news.
68:12 Kings leading armies run away — they run away! The lovely lady of the house divides up the loot.
68:13 When you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver and with glittering gold.
68:14 When the sovereign judge scatters kings, let it snow on Zalmon!
68:15 The mountain of Bashan is a towering mountain; the mountain of Bashan is a mountain with many peaks.
68:16 Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, at the mountain where God has decided to live? Indeed the Lord will live there permanently!
68:17 God has countless chariots; they number in the thousands. The sovereign Master comes from Sinai in holy splendor.
68:18 You ascend on high, you have taken many captives. You receive tribute from men, including even sinful rebels. Indeed the Lord God lives there!