Psalm 48In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15.
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
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 Zaphon48:2 Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites. 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.48:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
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.
Psalm 48
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise.
Praise him in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2Mount Zion is high and beautiful.
It brings joy to everyone on earth.
Mount Zion is like the highest parts of Mount Zaphon.
It is the city of the Great King.
3God is there to keep it safe.
He has shown himself to be like a fort to the city.
4Many kings joined forces.
They entered Israel together.
5But when they saw Mount Zion, they were amazed.
They ran away in terror.
6Trembling took hold of them.
They felt pain like a woman giving birth.
7Lord, you destroyed them like ships of Tarshish
that were torn apart by an east wind.
8What we heard we have also seen.
We have seen it
in the city of the Lord who rules over all.
We have seen it in the city of our God.
We have heard and seen that God makes it secure forever.
9God, inside your temple
we think about your faithful love.
10God, your fame reaches from one end of the earth to the other.
So people praise you from one end of the earth to the other.
You use your power to do what is right.
11Mount Zion is filled with joy.
The villages of Judah are glad.
That’s because you judge fairly.
12Walk all around Zion.
Count its towers.
13Think carefully about its outer walls.
Just look at how safe it is!
Then you can tell its people that God keeps them safe.
14This God is our God for ever and ever.
He will be our guide to the very end.
