To the Director of music: A Psalm. A song.

A Song of Praise to God

1God arises,

and his enemies are scattered.

Those who hate him flee from his presence.a

2As smoke is driven away, so you drive them away.

As wax melts in the presence of fire,

so the wicked die in the presence of God.

3But the righteous rejoice and exult before God;

they are overwhelmed with joy.

4Sing to God!

Sing praise to his name!

Exalt the one who rides on the clouds.

The LORD is his name.

Be jubilant in his presence.

5A father to orphans and an advocate for widows

is God in his holy dwelling place.

6God causes the lonely to dwell in families.b

He leads prisoners into prosperity,

but rebels live on parched land.

7God, when you led out your people,

when you marched through the desert,

Interlude

8the land quaked.

Indeed, the heavens poured down rain

from the presence of God,

this God of Sinai,

from the presence of God,

the God of Israel.

9God, you poured out abundant rain on your inheritance.

When Israelc was weary, you sustained her.

10Your people lived there;

you sustain the needye with your goodness, God.

11The Lord issues a command.

Numerous are the women who announce the news:

12“Kings of armies retreat and flee,

while the lady of the house divides the spoil.

13When you men lie down among the sheepfolds,

you are likef the wings of the dove covered with silver,

with its feathers in glittering gold.”

14When the Almighty scattered the kings there,

there was snow on Mt. Zalmon.

15The mountain of God is as the mountain of Bashan;

a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.

16You mountains of many peaks, why do you watch with envy

the mountain in which God has chosen to dwell?

Indeed, the LORD will live there forever.

17God’s chariots were many thousands.

The Lord was there with them at Sinai in holiness.

18You ascended to the heights,

you took captives.

You received gifts among mankind,

even the rebellious,

so the LORD God may live there.g

19Blessed be the Lord who daily carries us.

God is our deliverer.

20God is for us the God of our deliverance.

The Lord GOD rescues us from death.

21God surely strikes the heads of his enemies,

even the hairy heads of those who continue in their guilt.

22The Lord says, “From Bashan I will bring them,

I will bring them from the depths of the sea,

23that your feet may wade through blood.

The tongues of your dogs will have their portions

from your enemies.”

24They have observed your processions, God,

the processions of my God,

my king, in the sanctuary.

25The singers are in front,

the musicians follow,

strumming their stringed instruments

among the maidens who are playing their tambourines.

26Bless God in the great congregation,

the LORD who is the fountain of Israel.

27Little Benjamin is there, leading them,

and the princes of Judah all together

with the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.

28Summon the power of your God,

the power, God, that you have shown us.

29Because of your Temple in Jerusalem,

kings bring tribute to you.

30Rebuke the wildlife that lives among the reeds,

the nations that congregate like bulls and cows,

humbling themselves with pieces of silver,

for Godh scatters the nations that delight in battle.

31Envoys will come from Egypt.

Let the Ethiopians stretch out their hands to God.

32You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God!

Sing praises to the Lord,

Interlude

33to the one who rides the heavens, the ancient heavens.

Behold! He thunders with a mighty voice.

34Ascribe power to God, whose glory is over Israel,

whose power is in the skies.

35You are awesome, God, from your sanctuaries.

The God of Israel is the one

who gives strength and power to the people.

Blessed be God!