1Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,

in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

2Beautiful in its loftiness,

the joy of the whole earth,

like the heights of Zaphon ^b is Mount Zion,

the city of the Great King.

3God is in her citadels;

he has shown himself to be her fortress.

4When the kings joined forces,

when they advanced together,

5they saw her and were astounded;

they fled in terror.

6Trembling seized them there,

pain like that of a woman in labor.

7You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish

shattered by an east wind.

8As we have heard,

so we have seen

in the city of the Lord Almighty,

in the city of our God:

God makes her secure

forever. ^c

9Within your temple, O God,

we meditate on your unfailing love.

10Like your name, O God,

your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;

your right hand is filled with righteousness.

11Mount Zion rejoices,

the villages of Judah are glad

because of your judgments.

12Walk about Zion, go around her,

count her towers,

13consider well her ramparts,

view her citadels,

that you may tell of them

to the next generation.

14For this God is our God for ever and ever;

he will be our guide even to the end.