Psalm 68

Benjamin Essenburg, 1931

1. God shall arise and by His might
   Put all His enemies to flight
   With shame and consternation.
   His haters, haughty though they be,
   Shall at His august presence flee
   In utter desolation;
   For when Jehovah shall appear,
   He shall consume, afar and near,
   All those that evil cherish.
   As smoke before His dreadful ire,
   As wax is molten by the fire,
   So shall the wicked perish.
   
2. But let the righteous, blessed of yore,
   Joy in their God as ne’er before,
   Faith’s victory achieving.
   Their joy shall then unbounded be
   Who see God’s face eternally,
   Their heart’s desire receiving.
   Exalt, exalt the Name of God;
   Sing ye His royal fame abroad
   With fervent exultation;
   Cast up a highway smooth and wide
   That through the deserts He may ride,
   Jehovah our salvation.
   
3. Sing praise, thou chosen Israel,
   Who with the folds of sheep dost dwell;
   Thou art God’s joy and treasure,
   Like doves on golden-feathered wing,
   In holy beauty thou shalt bring
   Thy praise to God with pleasure.
   Jehovah scattered kings and foes,
   Redeeming thee from grievous woes;
   Praise is thy holy duty.
   For God did choose a mount so fair
   That Bashan’s height cannot compare
   With Zion’s fame and beauty.
   
4. The Lord is great, His might untold,
   His chariots thousand thousand fold,
   His armies ne’er confounded.
   Among them God with joy displays
   The glory that in Moses’ days
   Mount Sinai surrounded.
   When Thou, O Lord, in glory bright,
   Ascendedst in the heavenly height
   Our captive-bonds to sever,
   Rich gifts from those who did rebel
   Thou didst receive, that men might dwell
   With Thee, O Lord, forever.
   
5. Let God be praised with reverence deep;
   He daily comes our lives to steep
   In bounties freely given.
   God cares for us, our God is He;
   Who would not fear His majesty
   In earth as well as heaven?
   Our God upholds us in the strife;
   To us He grants eternal life,
   And saves from desolation.
   He hears the needy when they cry,
   He saves their souls when death draws nigh,
   This God is our salvation.
   
6. Ye kings and kingdoms of the earth,
   Extol Jehovah’s matchless worth
   With Psalm s of adoration.
   Praise Him whose glory rides on high,
   Whose thunders roll through clouded sky
   With mighty intonation.
   Ascribe ye strength to God alone,
   Whose worth in Israel is known,
   For whom the heavens tremble.
   O Lord, our strength, to Thee we bow,
   For great and terrible art Thou
   Out of Thy holy temple.