1[A song; a psalm by Korah's descendants.] The LORD is great. He should be highly praised. His holy mountain is in the city of our God.

2Its beautiful peak is the joy of the whole earth. Mount Zion is on the northern ridge. It is the city of the great king.

3God is in its palaces. He has proved that he is a stronghold.

4The kings have gathered. They marched together.

5[When] they saw [Mount Zion], they were astonished. They were terrified and ran away in fear.

6Trembling seized them like the trembling that a woman experiences during labor.

7With the east wind you smash the ships of Tarshish.

8The things we had only heard about, we have now seen in the city of the LORD of Armies, in the city of our God. God makes Zion stand firm forever. [Selah]

9Inside your temple we carefully reflect on your mercy, O God.

10Like your name, O God, your praise [reaches] to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

11Let Mount Zion be glad and the cities of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.

12Walk around Zion. Go around it. Count its towers.

13Examine its embankments. Walk through its palaces. Then you can tell the next generation,

14"This God is our God forever and ever. He will lead us beyond death."