The psalm celebrates God as he arises and scatters his enemies, as a father of orphans and defender of widows. He leads Israel from Sinai to his sanctuary. Kingdoms of the earth are called to sing to God.
1 To the chief Musician , A Psalm or Song of David . Let God arise , let his enemies be scattered : let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away , so drive them away : as wax melteth before the fire , so let the wicked perish at the presence of God .
3 But let the righteous be glad ; let them rejoice before God : yea, let them exceedingly rejoice .
4 Sing unto God , sing praises to his name : extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH , and rejoice before him.
5 A father of the fatherless , and a judge of the widows , is God in his holy habitation .
6 God setteth the solitary in families : he bringeth out those which are bound with chains : but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7 O God , when thou wentest forth before thy people , when thou didst march through the wilderness ; Selah :
8 The earth shook , the heavens also dropped at the presence of God : even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God , the God of Israel .
9 Thou, O God , didst send a plentiful rain , whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance , when it was weary .
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God , hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor .
11 The Lord gave the word : great was the company of those that published it.
12 Kings of armies did flee apace : and she that tarried at home divided the spoil .
13 Though ye have lien among the pots , yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver , and her feathers with yellow gold .
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon .
15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan ; an high hill as the hill of Bashan .
16 Why leap ye, ye high hills ? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in ; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever .
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand , even thousands of angels : the Lord is among them, as in Sinai , in the holy place.
18 Thou hast ascended on high , thou hast led captivity captive : thou hast received gifts for men ; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord , who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation . Selah .
20 He that is our God is the God of salvation ; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death .
21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies , and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses .
22 The Lord said , I will bring again from Bashan , I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea :
23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies , and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
24 They have seen thy goings , O God ; even the goings of my God , my King , in the sanctuary .
25 The singers went before , the players on instruments followed after ; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels .
26 Bless ye God in the congregations , even the Lord , from the fountain of Israel .
27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler , the princes of Judah and their council , the princes of Zebulun , and the princes of Naphtali .
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength : strengthen , O God , that which thou hast wrought for us.
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the company of spearmen , the multitude of the bulls , with the calves of the people , till every one submit himself with pieces of silver : scatter thou the people that delight in war .
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt ; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God .
32 Sing unto God , ye kingdoms of the earth ; O sing praises unto the Lord ; Selah :
33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens , which were of old ; lo, he doth send out his voice , and that a mighty voice .
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God : his excellency is over Israel , and his strength is in the clouds .
35 O God , thou art terrible out of thy holy places : the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people . Blessed be God .