Ketuvim: כתובים /
Hagiographa / Writings
Tehillim / תהלים
Psalms Chapter
68 – listen
in NASB version
The True Elohim
Book 1 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41,
Book 2 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72,
Book 3 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89,
Book 4 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101 , 102, 103, 104, 105, 106,
Book 5 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150
The first main part (verse 1- 18) is a historical retrospect, and tells of Elohim's victorious power in the past.
In the two main parts, 1-18; and 19-35 again divided into eight strophes each strophe consist of 4 verses.
Introductory hymn of praise to Elohim 1 - 6
למנצח לדוד מזמור שׁיר׃
Lamnatzeakh leDavid mizmor Shir:
For the choir director. A
mizmor of Davyid. A Shir.
Strophe I (2 Samuel 6:2-18)
68:1 (6:2) יקום אלהים יפוצו אויביו וינוסו משׂנאיו מפניו׃
Yakum Elohim yafutzu oivav veyanusu mesanav mipanav:
Elohim shall arise, His enemies shall
be scattered; and those who hate Him shall flee before Him!
“Rise up, O יהוה! And let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.” – Numbers 10:35
68:2 (6:3) כהנדף עשׁן תנדף כהמס דונג מפני־אשׁ יאבדו רשׁעים מפני אלהים׃
Kehindof ashan tindof kehimes donag mipnei-esh yovdu reshaim mipnei Elohim:
As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before Elohim!
68:3 (6:4) וצדיקים ישׂמחו יעלצו לפני אלהים וישׂישׂו בשׂמחה׃
Vetzadikim yismekhu yaaltzu lifnei Elohim veyasisu vesimcha:
But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before Elohim;
Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.
Septuagint:- But let the
righteous rejoice; let them exalt before Elohim: let them be delighted
with joy.
68:4 (6:5) (Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 62:10)
שׁירו לאלהים זמרו שׁמו סלו לרכב בערבות ביה שׁמו ועלזו לפניו׃
Shiru lElohim zamru shemo solu larokhev baaravot beYAH shemo veilzu lefanav:
Sing to Elohim,
sing praises to His Name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds,
By His Name YAH, And rejoice before
Him.
Septuagint:- Sing to Elohim, sing praises to His Name: make a way for Him that rides upon the west (Adonay is His name) and rejoice before Him. They shall be troubled before the face of Him,
68:5 (6:6) אבי יתומים ודין אלמנות אלהים במעון קדשׁו׃
Avi yetomim vedayan almanot Elohim bimon kadsho:
Father of the fatherless, And protector of widows, Is Elohim in His Set-Apart dwelling.
68:6 (6:7) Ruth 4:14-17
אלהים מושׁיב יחידים ביתה מוציא אסירים בכושׁרות אך סוררים שׁכנו צחיחה׃
Elohim moshiv yekhidim baitah motzi asirim bakosharot akh-sorarim shakhnu tzekhikha:
Elohim makes a home for
the lonely;
He leads out the prisoners to prosperity.
Those who are bound with chains; Only the rebellious shall dwell in a dry land.
Cf
Psalms 107:4-6, Acts 12:6-11
Strophe II
The Ark Moves from Sinai through the Wilderness (7 - 8), describes Elohim’s terror and tenderness of Elohim power and providence.
68:7 (6:8) אלהים בצאתך לפני עמך בצעדך בישׁימון סלה׃
Elohim betzetkha lifnei amekha betzadekha vishimon Selah:
O Elohim, when Thou went out before Thy people,
When Thou marched through the wilderness, Selah
68:8 (6:9) ארץ רעשׁה אף־שׁמים נטפו מפני אלהים זה סיני מפני אלהים אלהי ישׂראל׃
Eretz raasha af-shamayim natfu mipnei Elohim zeh Sinai mipnei Elohim, Elohei Yisrael:
The earth shook;
The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of Elohim;
Sinai itself was moved at the presence of Elohim, the Elohim of Yisrael.
The Entrance and Conquest of the Land (9-14)
68:9 (6:10) גשׁם נדבות תניף אלהים נחלתך ונלאה אתה כוננתה׃
Geshem nedavot tanif Elohim nakhalatkha venilah atah khonantah:
Thou, O Elohim, sent a shower of plenty,
Thou confirmed Thine inheritance,
When it was weary.
68:10 (6:11) חיתך ישׁבו־בה תכין בטובתך לעני אלהים׃
Khayatkha yashvu-vah takhin betovatkha leani Elohim:
Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O Elohim, provided from Your goodness for the poor.
Strophe III
The victories which won the land are recounted
in vs 11-14 cover the period of Yehoshua and Judges
68:11 (6:12) אדני יתן־אמר המבשׂרות צבא רב׃
Adonai yiten-omer hamvasrot tzava rav:
Adonai gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it:
68:12 (6:13) מלכי צבאות ידדון ידדון ונות בית תחלק שׁלל׃
Malkhei tzevaot yidodun yidodun unevat bayit tekhalek shalal:
"Kings
of armies flee, they flee, And she who remains at home divides
the spoil.
Cf-
Yehoshua 10:16
68:13 (6:14) אם־תשׁכבון בין שׁפתים כנפי יונה נחפה בכסף ואברותיה בירקרק חרוץ׃
Im-tishkevun bein shefatayim kanfei yonah nekhpah vakesef veevroteiha birakak kharutz:
Though ye have lien among the sheepfold,
[yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her
feathers with yellow gold.
Notes: cf-judge 5:16 referring to
Reuven. And then Devorah remembered
those who did not come to help. Reuven had great searchings of
heart but stayed among the sheepfolds. Gilead (Gad) did not
cross the Yarden to join in the battle. Dan remained in ships,
and Asher sat idly at the seashore. Scripture notes carefully
those who fought in the battle and those who stood passively by, unwilling to
risk their safety in Adonay's cause.
68:14 (6:15) בפרשׂ שׁדי מלכים בה תשׁלג בצלמון׃
Befares Shadai melakhim bah tashleg betzalmon:
When the Almighty scattered
kings in it, It was white as snow in Tzalmon (shady).
Cf
Yehoshua 10:10
Strophe IV
The Capture of Yerushalayim by David (15-18)
68:15 (6:16) הר־אלהים הר־בשׁן הר גבננים הר־בשׁן׃
Har-Elohim Har-Bashan Har-gavnunim Har-Bashan:
A mountain of Elohim is the mountain of Bashan;
A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
Bashan = "fruitful" a district
east of the Jordan known for its fertility which was given to the half-tribe of
Manasseh
68:16 (6:17) למה תרצדון הרים גבננים ההר חמד אלהים לשׁבתו אף־יהוה ישׁכן לנצח׃
Lamah teratzdun harim gavnunim hahar khamad Elohim leshivto af-YEHOVAH yishkon lanetzakh:
Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of
many peaks?
This is the mountain which Elohim desires to dwell in;
Yes, YEHOVAH will dwell in it forever.
68:17 (6:18) רכב אלהים רבתים אלפי שׁנאן אדני בם סיני בקדשׁ
Rekhev Elohim ribotayim alfei shinan Adonai vam Sinai bakodesh:
The chariots of Elohim are
ten of thousand,
and thousands of thousands; Adonai is among them as in Sinai, in the Set Apart place.
68:18 (6:19) Ephesians 4:8-10
עלית למרום שׁבית שׁבי לקחת מתנות באדם ואף סוררים לשׁכן יה אלהים׃
Alita lamarom shavita shevi lakakh amatanot baadam veaf sorrim lishkon YAH Elohim:
Thou have ascended on high,
Thou have led captivity captive;
Thou have received gifts among men,
Even from the rebellious,
That YAH Elohim
might dwell there.
Septuagint:- You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive, You have received gifts among men, yea, for they were rebellious, that You might dwell among them.
The Second main part (verse 19 - 35) is a prophetical prospect and tells of Elohim's victorious power in the present and the Future.
Strophe V
Song Praising Elohim for Victory over the Yevusites (68:19-23) The Great alternatives are presented
68:19 (6:20) ברוך אדני יום יום יעמס־לנו האל ישׁועתנו סלה׃
Barukh Adonai yom yom yaamas-lanu haEL yeshuatenu Selah:
Blessed be Adonai,
Who daily loads us with benefits, The EL of
our salvation! Selah
Septuagint:- Blessed be
Adonay Elohim, blessed be Adonay daily; and the EL of our salvation shall
prosper us. Pause.
68:20 (6:21) האל לנו אל למושׁעות וליהוה אדני למות תוצאות׃
HaEL lanu EL lemoshaot veleYEHOVI Adonai lamavet totzaot:
The EL we have, is the EL of saving deeds, And due to YEHOVI Adonai are escapes from death.
68:21 (6:22) אך־אלהים ימחץ ראשׁ איביו קדקד שׂער מתהלך באשׁמיו׃
Akh-Elohim yimkhatz rosh oivav kadkod sear mithalekh baashamav:
Surely Elohim will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
68:22 (6:23) אמר אדני מבשׁן אשׁיב אשׁיב ממצלות ים׃
Amar Adonai: miBashan ashiv, ashiv mimtzulot yam:
Adonai said,
"I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back
from the depths of the sea,
68:23 (6:24) למען תמחץ רגלך בדם לשׁון כלביך מאיבים מנהו׃
Lemaan timkhatz raglekha bedam leshon kelaveikha meoivim minehu:
That you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe."
Strophe VI
The Procession Carrying the Ark to the Sanctuary in Yerushalayim (68:24-27) (2 Samuel 6:12-19)
68:24 (6:25) ראו הליכותיך אלהים הליכות אלי מלכי בקדשׁ׃
Rau halikhoteikha Elohim halikhot Eli malki vakodesh:
They have seen Your goings, O Elohim, The goings of my ĚL, my Sovereign, Into the Set-Apart Place.
68:25 (6:26) קדמו שׁרים אחר נגנים בתוך עלמות תופפות׃
Kidmu sharim akhar nognim betokh alamot tofefot:
The singers went in front, The players on instruments after them; Among them were the maidens playing tambourines.
68:26(6:27) במקהלות ברכו אלהים יהוה ממקור ישׂראל׃
Bemakhelot Barkhu Elohim YEHOVAH mimkor Yisrael:
"Bless Elohim in the great congregation,
YEHOVAH, O you who are of Yisrael's fountain!"
68:27 (6:28) שׁם בנימן צעיר רדם שׂרי יהודה רגמתם שׂרי זבלון שׂרי נפתלי׃
Sham Binyamin tzair rodem sarei Yehudah rigma am sarei Zevulun sarei Naftali:
There is little Binyamin,
their leader, The princes of Yehudah and
their company, The princes of Zevulun
and the princes of Naftali.
Notes:- The
tribes of Benjamin and Judah, one small and one large, represent the southern
portion of the kingdom and Zebulun and Naphtali represent the
northern portion. Perhaps the last two are mentioned because of the praise
bestowed on them in Deborah and Barak’s song (Jdg_5:18).
Strophe VII
The Jubilant Throng Anticipating the Final Victory of Elohim (28-35)
68:28 (6:29) צוה אלהיך עזך עוזה אלהים זו פעלת לנו׃
Tzivah Eloheikha ozekha uzah Elohim zu paalta lanu:
Thy Elohim has commanded your strength;
Strengthen, O Elohim, what Thou have done for us.
68:29 (6:30) מהיכלך על־ירושׁלם לך יובילו מלכים שׁי׃
Meheikhalekha al-Yerushalam lekha yovilu melakhim shai:
Because of Thy temple at Yerushalayim,
Kings will bring presents to Thee.
68:30 (6:31) גער חית קנה עדת אבירים בעגלי עמים מתרפס ברצי־כסף בזר עמים קרבות יחפצו׃
Gear khayat kaneh adat abirim beeglei amim mitrapes beratzei-khasef bizar amim keravot yekhpatsu:
Rebuke the beasts of the reeds,
The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Till everyone submits himself with pieces of silver.
Scatter the peoples who delight in war.
68:31 (6:32) יאתיו חשׁמנים מני מצרים כושׁ תריץ ידיו לאלהים׃
Yeetayu khashmanim mini Mitzrayim Kush taritz yadav lElohim:
Princes will come out of Mitzrayim;
Kush will quickly stretch out her hands to Elohim.
Strophe VIII
68:32 (6:33) ממלכות הארץ שׁירו לאלהים זמרו אדני סלה׃
Mamlekhot ha eretz shiru lElohim zamru Adonai Selah:
Sing to Elohim, you kingdoms of the earth;
O sing praises to Adonai; Selah:
68:33 (6:34) לרכב בשׁמי שׁמי־קדם הן יתן בקולו קול עז׃
Larokhev bishmei shemei-kedem hen-yiten bekolo kol oz:
To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens,
which were of old! Indeed,
He sends out His voice,
A mighty Voice.
68:34 (6:35) תנו עז לאלהים על־ישׂראל גאותו ועזו בשׁחקים׃
Tenu oz lElohim al-Yisrael gaavato veuzo bashkhakim:
Ascribe strength to Elohim; His excellence is over Yisrael, And His strength is in the clouds.
68:35 (6:36) נורא אלהים ממקדשׁיך אל ישׂראל הוא נתן עז ותעצמות לעם ברוך אלהים׃
Nora Elohim mimikdasheikha EL Yisrael hu noten oz vetaatzumot laam Barukh Elohim:
O Elohim, awesome from Thy Set-Apart places, The ĚL of Yisra’ĕl is He Who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be Elohim!
FOR THE CHIEF MUSICIAN
SET TO SHOSHANNIM
(LILIES)
Book 1 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41,
Book 2 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72,
Book 3 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89,
Book 4 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101 , 102, 103, 104, 105, 106,
Book 5 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150
Benyamin – of Benyamin he said,
The beloved of Adonay shall dwell in safety by him and Adonay shall cover him
all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders (Devarim 33:12)
A prayer: The greatness and goodness of Elohim. (1-6)
The wonderful works Elohim performed for His people. (7-14)
The presence of Elohim in His congregation. (15-21)
The victories of Mashiach. (22-28)
The growth of the Assembly. (29-31)
The glory and grace of Elohim. (32-35)
verse 18 - Paulos applies verse 18 to the Ascension of Messiah (Ephesians 4:8-10). When Messiah ascended from earth to heaven, He led captivity captive, that is, He triumphed gloriously over His foes and gave gifts to men. The gifts He received among men as reward for His finished redemptive work (Psa 68:18), He turned around and gave these same gifts to men for the establishment and expansion of His Assembly (Ephesians 4:8).