Psalm 68
Psalm 68 | |
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← Psalm 67 Psalm 69 → | |
![]() The Triple Unite coin of Charles I (1644) bears the psalm's incipit EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI | |
Book | Book of Psalms |
Hebrew Bible part | Ketuvim |
Order in the Hebrew part | 1 |
Category | Sifrei Emet |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 19 |
Psalm 68 is the 68th psalm of the Book of Psalms, or Psalm 67 in Septuagint and Vulgate numbering. In the English of the King James Version it begins "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered". In the Latin Vulgate version it begins "Exsurgat Deus et dissipentur inimici eius".[1] It has 35 verses (36 according to Hebrew numbering). Methodist writer Arno C. Gaebelein calls it "The Great Redemption Accomplished" and describes it as "one of the greatest Psalms".[2]
Text[]
Hebrew[3] | KJV (1769) |
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1 .לַמְנַצֵּחַ לְדָוִד, מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר
2 .יָקוּם אֱלֹהִים, יָפוּצוּ אוֹיְבָיו; וְיָנוּסוּ מְשַׂנְאָיו, מִפָּנָיו |
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. |
3 :כְּהִנְדֹּף עָשָׁן, תִּנְדֹּף
.כְּהִמֵּס דּוֹנַג, מִפְּנֵי-אֵשׁ-- יֹאבְדוּ רְשָׁעִים, מִפְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים |
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. |
4 .וְצַדִּיקִים--יִשְׂמְחוּ יַעַלְצוּ, לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים; וְיָשִׂישׂוּ בְשִׂמְחָה | 3. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. |
5 שִׁירוּ לֵֽאלֹהִים זַמְּרוּ שְׁמוֹ סֹלּוּ לָרֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת בְּיָהּ שְׁמוֹ וְעִלְזוּ לְפָנָֽיו׃ | 4. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. |
6 .אֲבִי יְתוֹמִים, וְדַיַּן אַלְמָנוֹת-- אֱלֹהִים, בִּמְעוֹן קָדְשׁוֹ | 5. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. |
7 ;אֱלֹהִים, מוֹשִׁיב יְחִידִים בַּיְתָה-- מוֹצִיא אֲסִירִים, בַּכּוֹשָׁרוֹת
.אַךְ סוֹרְרִים, שָׁכְנוּ צְחִיחָה |
6. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. |
8 .אֱלֹהִים--בְּצֵאתְךָ, לִפְנֵי עַמֶּךָ; בְּצַעְדְּךָ בִישִׁימוֹן סֶלָה | 7. O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah: |
9 :אֶרֶץ רָעָשָׁה, אַף-שָׁמַיִם נָטְפוּ-- מִפְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים
.זֶה סִינַי-- מִפְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל |
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. |
10 .גֶּשֶׁם נְדָבוֹת, תָּנִיף אֱלֹהִים; נַחֲלָתְךָ וְנִלְאָה, אַתָּה כוֹנַנְתָּהּ | 9. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. |
11 .חַיָּתְךָ יָשְׁבוּ-בָהּ; תָּכִין בְּטוֹבָתְךָ לֶעָנִי אֱלֹהִים | 10. Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. |
12 .אֲדֹנָי יִתֶּן-אֹמֶר; הַמְבַשְּׂרוֹת, צָבָא רָב | 22. The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. |
13 .מַלְכֵי צְבָאוֹת, יִדֹּדוּן יִדֹּדוּן; וּנְוַת-בַּיִת, תְּחַלֵּק שָׁלָל | 12. Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. |
14 :אִם-תִּשְׁכְּבוּן, בֵּין שְׁפַתָּיִם
.כַּנְפֵי יוֹנָה, נֶחְפָּה בַכֶּסֶף; וְאֶבְרוֹתֶיהָ, בִּירַקְרַק חָרוּץ |
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. |
15 .בְּפָרֵשׂ שַׁדַּי מְלָכִים בָּהּ-- תַּשְׁלֵג בְּצַלְמוֹן | 14. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon. |
16 .הַר-אֱלֹהִים הַר-בָּשָׁן: הַר גַּבְנֻנִּים, הַר-בָּשָׁן | 15. The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan. |
17 :לָמָּה, תְּרַצְּדוּן-- הָרִים גַּבְנֻנִּים
.הָהָר--חָמַד אֱלֹהִים לְשִׁבְתּוֹ; אַף-יְהוָה, יִשְׁכֹּן לָנֶצַח |
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. |
18 .רֶכֶב אֱלֹהִים, רִבֹּתַיִם אַלְפֵי שִׁנְאָן; אֲדֹנָי בָם, סִינַי בַּקֹּדֶשׁ | 17. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. |
19 ;עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם, שָׁבִיתָ שֶּׁבִי-- לָקַחְתָּ מַתָּנוֹת, בָּאָדָם
.וְאַף סוֹרְרִים, לִשְׁכֹּן יָהּ אֱלֹהִים |
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. |
20 .בָּרוּךְ אֲדֹנָי, יוֹם יוֹם: יַעֲמָס-לָנוּ--הָאֵל יְשׁוּעָתֵנוּ סֶלָה | 19. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. |
21 .הָאֵל לָנוּ, אֵל לְמוֹשָׁעוֹת: וְלֵיהוִה אֲדֹנָי--לַמָּוֶת, תֹּצָאוֹת | 20. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. |
22 .אַךְ-אֱלֹהִים--יִמְחַץ, רֹאשׁ אֹיְבָיו: קָדְקֹד שֵׂעָר--מִתְהַלֵּךְ, בַּאֲשָׁמָיו | 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. |
23 .אָמַר אֲדֹנָי, מִבָּשָׁן אָשִׁיב; אָשִׁיב, מִמְּצֻלוֹת יָם | 22. The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: |
24 .לְמַעַן, תִּמְחַץ רַגְלְךָ--בְּדָם: לְשׁוֹן כְּלָבֶיךָ--מֵאֹיְבִים מִנֵּהוּ | 23. That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same. |
25 .רָאוּ הֲלִיכוֹתֶיךָ אֱלֹהִים; הֲלִיכוֹת אֵלִי מַלְכִּי בַקֹּדֶשׁ | 24. They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. |
26 .קִדְּמוּ שָׁרִים, אַחַר נֹגְנִים; בְּתוֹךְ עֲלָמוֹת, תּוֹפֵפוֹת | 25. The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels. |
27 .בְּמַקְהֵלוֹת, בָּרְכוּ אֱלֹהִים; אֲדֹנָי, מִמְּקוֹר יִשְׂרָאֵל | 26. Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. |
28 .שָׁם בִּנְיָמִן, צָעִיר רֹדֵם--שָׂרֵי יְהוּדָה, רִגְמָתָם; שָׂרֵי זְבֻלוּן, שָׂרֵי נַפְתָּלִי | 27. There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. |
29 .צִוָּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, עֻזֶּךָ: עוּזָּה אֱלֹהִים--זוּ, פָּעַלְתָּ לָּנוּ | 28. Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. |
30 .מֵהֵיכָלֶךָ, עַל-יְרוּשָׁלִָם-- לְךָ יוֹבִילוּ מְלָכִים שָׁי | 29. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. |
31 גְּעַר חַיַּת קָנֶה עֲדַת אַבִּירִים בְּעֶגְלֵי עַמִּים מִתְרַפֵּס בְּרַצֵּי־כָסֶף בִּזַּר עַמִּים קְרָבוֹת יֶחְפָּֽצוּ׃ | 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. |
32 .יֶאֱתָיוּ חַשְׁמַנִּים, מִנִּי מִצְרָיִם; כּוּשׁ תָּרִיץ יָדָיו, לֵאלֹהִים | 31. Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. |
33 .מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ, שִׁירוּ לֵאלֹהִים; זַמְּרוּ אֲדֹנָי סֶלָה | 32. Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah: |
34 .לָרֹכֵב, בִּשְׁמֵי שְׁמֵי-קֶדֶם-- הֵן יִתֵּן בְּקוֹלוֹ, קוֹל עֹז | 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. |
35 .תְּנוּ עֹז, לֵאלֹהִים: עַל-יִשְׂרָאֵל גַּאֲוָתוֹ; וְעֻזּוֹ, בַּשְּׁחָקִים | Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. |
36 נוֹרָא אֱלֹהִים מִֽמִּקְדָּשֶׁיךָ אֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא נֹתֵן עֹז וְתַעֲצֻמוֹת לָעָם בָּרוּךְ אֱלֹהִֽים׃ | 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. |
Name of God[]
According to Gaebelein, the name of God is found in this psalm in seven different forms: Jehovah (or YHWH), Adonai, El, Shaddai, Jah (or Yah), Jehovah-Adonai and Jah-Elohim.[2]
Uses[]
In Judaism[]
According to the "Complete ArtScroll Siddur" as edited by Nosson Scherman in 1984, isolated verses from the psalm are part of contemporary Jewish liturgy:
- Verses 5-6 are part of the prayers recited following Motzei Shabbat Maariv (p. 609),
- Verse 20 is part of Uva Letzion (p. 157),
- Verses 35-36 are the fourth and fifth verses of V'hu Rachum in Pesukei Dezimra (p. 62).
According to "The ArtScroll Tehillim" by Hillel Danziger (1989, p. 329), in some traditions, the entire psalm is recited on Shavuot.
New Testament[]
Verse 18 is referenced in Ephesians 4:8:
- διὸ λέγει Ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν καὶ ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις
- Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
The passage in the psalm makes reference to the Ark of the Covenant ascending to Mount Zion, and Paul is here drawing a comparison to the Ascension of Jesus.[4]
Roman Catholic liturgy[]
In the monastic tradition dating from the Early Middle Ages, this psalm was traditionally recited at the Matins office on Wednesday,[5][6] according to the distribution of the rule of St. Benedict fixed at 530.[7]
In the current Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 68 is recited or sung at the Reading Office on Tuesday of the third week in the four weekly cycle. It is also read on the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time in year C in the triennial cycle of the Sunday masses.
Eastern Orthodox tradition[]
The first two verses of the psalm's Church Slavonic version form the beginning of the "Prayer of the Cross" or Молитва Кресту in the Russian tradition part of the daily evening prayers:[8]
- Да воскре́снетъ Богъ, и расточа́тся врази́ Его́, и да бѣжа́тъ отъ лица́ Его́ ненави́дящіи Его́. Я́ко исчеза́етъ дымъ, да исче́знутъ; я́ко та́етъ воскъ отъ лица́ огня́, та́ко да поги́бнутъ бѣси отъ лица́ лю́бящихъ Бо́га и зна́менующихся кре́стнымъ зна́меніемъ
- Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so let them be driven away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the face of those who love God and who are signified by the sign of the cross.
Book of Common Prayer[]
In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this is the sole psalm appointed to be read on the morning of the 13th day of the month.[9]
Musical settings[]
Psalm 68 | |
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"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered" | |
Other name |
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Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed Exurgat Deus (H.215) around 1690, set for soloists, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo.
Philipp Heinrich Erlebach composed Gelobet sei der Herr täglich, a church cantata for the First Sunday after Trinity beginning with Psalm 68:20.
Handel's oratorio Messiah (HWV 56) cites verses 1 and 18 according to the King James Version.[10]
Secular references[]
The second part of verse 31, "Ethiopia shall soon stretch her hands unto God" (Ge'ez: ኢ���ዮጵያ ታበድ አደዊሃ ሃበ አግዚአብሐር, Itiyopia tabetsih edewiha habe Igziabiher) was used in the coat of arms of Emperor Haile Selassie, and was also formerly used as the national motto of Ethiopia. (The original Hebrew refers to Cush (כוש).)[11]
John Buchan's collection of short stories The Runagates Club (1928) derives its title from verse 6, which in the Book of Common Prayer reads "but letteth the runagates continue in scarceness",[9] where the King James Version has "but the rebellious dwell in a dry land"; runagate is an obsolete spelling of renegade.
References[]
- ^ "Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 67 (68)". medievalist.net. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ a b Gaebelein, A. C. (1919), Gaebelein's Annotated Bible on Psalm 68, accessed 10 December 2021
- ^ Masoretic text of the Leningrad Codex (early 11th century)
- ^ Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Vol. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 839. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, p. 239, 1938/2003
- ^ La distribution des Psaumes dans la Règle de Saint Benoît, accessed 15 July 2019
- ^ Traduction de Prosper Guéranger,Règle de saint Benoît, chapitre XVIII, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression) p.46.
- ^ Alexios Maltzew, Andachtsbuch der Orthodox-Katholischen Kirche des Morgenlandes, Berlin (1895), p. 761.
- ^ a b Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, p. 244
- ^ Block, Daniel I. (2001). "Handel's Messiah: Biblical and Theological Perspectives" (PDF). Didaskalia. 12 (2). Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- ^ Psalm 68:31 biblehub.com
External links[]
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Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psalm 68. |
- Pieces with text from Psalm 68: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Psalm 68: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Psalm 68 in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre
- Text of Psalm 68 according to the 1928 Psalter
- For the leader. A psalm of David; a song. / May God arise; may his enemies be scattered; / may those who hate him flee before him.a text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Psalm 68:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
- Psalm 68 – The Victorious Procession of God to Zion enduringword.com
- Psalm 68 / Refrain: Sing to God, sing praises to his name. Church of England
- Psalm 68 at biblegateway.com
- Psalms
- Works attributed to David