The Book of Psalms

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.

Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon (a) is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.

God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be a fortress.

For behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together.

They saw and were astounded; they fled in terror.

Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.

With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.(b)

As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of Hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish her forever.

Selah Within Your temple, O God, we contemplate Your loving devotion.

Your name, O God, like Your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.

Mount Zion is glad, the daughters (c) of Judah rejoice, on account of Your judgments.

March around Zion, encircle her, count her towers,

consider her ramparts, tour her citadels, that you may tell the next generation.

For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even till death.(d)

(a)48:2 Or in the far north; the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites was Zaphon

(b)48:7 Or a fleet of trading ships

(d)48:14 Or He will guide us beyond death

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the north sides, the city of the great King.

God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge.

For, behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together.

They saw it, then they were amazed. They were dismayed. They hurried away.

Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail.

With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish.

As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of the LORD of Armies, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah.

We have thought about your loving kindness, God, in the middle of your temple.

As is your name, God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness.

Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.

Walk about Zion, and go around her. Number its towers.

Notice her bulwarks. Consider her palaces, that you may tell it to the next generation.

For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.