Psalm 68 - Common English Bible (2011) - a fresh translation to touch the heart and mind

For the music leader / / / Of David / / / A psalm / / / A song.
Let God rise up;
let his enemies scatter;
let those who hate him run scared before him!
Like smoke is driven away, drive them away!
Like wax melting before fire, let the wicked perish before God!
But let the righteous be glad and celebrate before God.
Let them rejoice with gladness!
Sing to God!  Sing praises to his name!
Exalt the one who rides the clouds!
The LORD is his name.
Celebrate before him!

Father of orphans and defender of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the lonely in their homes;
he sets prisoners free with happiness,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

When you went forth before your people, God,
when you marched through the wasteland,
the earth shook!
Yes, heaven poured down
before God, the one from Sinai --
before God, the God of Israel!
You showered down abundant rain, God,
when your inheritance grew weary,
you restored it yourself,
and your creatures settled in it.
In your goodness, God,
you provided for the poor.

My Lord gives the command --
many messengers are bringing good news:
"The kings of armies are on the run!
The women back home divide the spoil.
Even if you lie down among the sheepfolds,
there are wings of a dove covered with silver;
its pinions covered in precious gold."
When the Almighty [Shaddai] scattered the kings there,
snow fell on Mount Zalmon.

Mighty mountain, Mount Bashan;
many-peaked mountain, Mount Bashan!
You many-peaked mountain:
Why do you look with envy at the mountain God desired for his dwelling,
the mountain where the LORD dwells forever?

God's chariots are twice ten thousand -- countless thousands!
My Lord came from Sinai into the sanctuary.
You ascended the heights, leading away your captives,
receiving tribute from people,
even from those who rebel against the LORD God's dwelling there.
Bless the Lord!
The God of our salvation supports us day after day! -- SELAH.
Our God is the God of salvation,
and escapes from certain death comes through God my LORD.

Yes, God will shatter the heads of his enemies --
the very skulls of those who walk in guilt.
My Lord has spoken:
"From Bashan I will bring those people back.
I will bring them back from the ocean's depths
so that you can wash your feet in their blood,
so that your dogs' tongues can lap up their share of your enemies."

They saw your procession, God --
the procession of my God,
my king, into the sanctuary.
First came the singers,
then the musicians;
between them the young women were playing hand drums:
"Bless God in the great congregation;
bless the LORD from Israel's fountain!"
There's Benjamin leading them,
though he's little,
then the princes of Judah,
their speaker;
then the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.

Summon your strength, God!
Show how strong you are, God,
just as you've done for us before,
from your temple above Jerusalem,
where kings bring you gifts.
Rebuke the wild animals of the marshland,
the herd of bulls among the calves of the peoples.
Trample those who delight in money, scatter the peoples
who take pleasure in battles.
Let ambassadors come from Egypt;
let Cush stretch out its hands to God.

Sing to God, all kingdoms of the earth!
Sing praises to my Lord.   -- SELAH.
Sing to the one who rides through heaven,
the most ancient heaven.
Look!  God sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.
Recognize how strong God is!
His majesty extends over Israel;
his strength is in the clouds.
You are awesome, God,
in your sanctuaries --
the God of Israel who gives strength and power to his speople!

Bless God!