Psalm 68

This article is about Psalm 68 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 68 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 69.

Psalm 68 (or Psalm 67 in Septuagint and Vulgate numbering) is "the most difficult and obscure of all the psalms." 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". 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".

Psalm 68
"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered"
The Triple Unite coin of Charles I (1644) bears the psalm's incipit EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI
Other name	Psalm 67 "Exsurgat Deus"
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 68
← Psalm 67 Psalm 69 →
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 used in both Jewish and Christian liturgies, and also in that of Ethiopianist new religious movements such as Rastafari. It has often been set to music, such as Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Exurgat Deus (H.215) in Latin around 1690, for soloists, chorus, two treble instruments and continuo. Handel used verses 11 and 18 in his 1742 oratorio Messiah (HWV 56).

Response

Difficulty

Writers like Pettinato in "Ebla" and Dahood in "Psalms II" say the psalm is one of the most difficult in the canon.

Psalm 68 represents one of the greatest challenges to the translator and interpreter of the psalter.

Giovanni Pettinato, "Archives of Ebla," pg 300, 1981

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ לְדָוִ֗ד מִזְמ֥וֹר שִֽׁיר׃‎	For the Leader. A Psalm of David, a Song.
2	יָק֣וּם אֱ֭לֹהִים יָפ֣וּצוּ אוֹיְבָ֑יו וְיָנ֥וּסוּ מְ֝שַׂנְאָ֗יו מִפָּנָֽיו׃‎	Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; And let them that hate Him flee before Him.
3	כְּהִנְדֹּ֥ף עָשָׁ֗ן תִּ֫נְדֹּ֥ף כְּהִמֵּ֣ס דּ֭וֹנַג מִפְּנֵי־אֵ֑שׁ יֹאבְד֥וּ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים מִפְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃‎	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	וְֽצַדִּיקִ֗ים יִשְׂמְח֣וּ יַ֭עַלְצוּ לִפְנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִ֗ים וְיָשִׂ֥ישׂוּ בְשִׂמְחָֽה׃‎	But let the righteous be glad, let them exult before God; Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.
5	שִׁ֤ירוּ ׀ לֵאלֹהִים֮ זַמְּר֢וּ שְׁ֫מ֥וֹ סֹ֡לּוּ לָרֹכֵ֣ב בָּ֭עֲרָבוֹת בְּיָ֥הּ שְׁמ֗וֹ וְעִלְז֥וּ לְפָנָֽיו׃‎	Sing unto God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him that rideth upon the skies, whose name is the LORD; And exult ye before Him.
6	אֲבִ֣י יְ֭תוֹמִים וְדַיַּ֣ן אַלְמָנ֑וֹת אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים בִּמְע֥וֹן קׇדְשֽׁוֹ׃‎	A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
7	אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ מ֘וֹשִׁ֤יב יְחִידִ֨ים ׀ בַּ֗יְתָה מוֹצִ֣יא אֲ֭סִירִים בַּכּוֹשָׁר֑וֹת אַ֥ךְ ס֝וֹרְרִ֗ים שָׁכְנ֥וּ צְחִיחָֽה׃‎	God maketh the solitary to dwell in a house; He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; The rebellious dwell but in a parched land.
8	אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים בְּ֭צֵאתְךָ לִפְנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֑ךָ בְּצַעְדְּךָ֖ בִישִׁימ֣וֹן סֶֽלָה׃‎	O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, When Thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah
9	אֶ֤רֶץ רָעָ֨שָׁה ׀ אַף־שָׁמַ֣יִם נָטְפוּ֮ מִפְּנֵ֢י אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים זֶ֥ה סִינַ֑י מִפְּנֵ֥י אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃‎	The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God; Even yon Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
10	גֶּ֣שֶׁם נְ֭דָבוֹת תָּנִ֣יף אֱלֹהִ֑ים נַחֲלָתְךָ֥ וְ֝נִלְאָ֗ה אַתָּ֥ה כוֹנַנְתָּֽהּ׃‎	A bounteous rain didst Thou pour down, O God; When Thine inheritance was weary, Thou didst confirm it.
11	חַיָּתְךָ֥ יָשְׁבוּ־בָ֑הּ תָּ֤כִֽין בְּטוֹבָתְךָ֖ לֶֽעָנִ֣י אֱלֹהִֽים׃‎	Thy flock settled therein; Thou didst prepare in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.
12	אֲדֹנָ֥י יִתֶּן־אֹ֑מֶר הַ֝מְבַשְּׂר֗וֹת צָבָ֥א רָֽב׃‎	The Lord giveth the word; The women that proclaim the tidings are a great host.
13	מַלְכֵ֣י צְ֭בָאוֹת יִדֹּד֣וּן יִדֹּד֑וּן וּנְוַת־בַּ֝֗יִת תְּחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל׃‎	Kings of armies flee, they flee; And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.
14	אִֽם־תִּשְׁכְּבוּן֮ בֵּ֤ין שְׁפַ֫תָּ֥יִם כַּנְפֵ֣י י֭וֹנָה נֶחְפָּ֣ה בַכֶּ֑סֶף וְ֝אֶבְרוֹתֶ֗יהָ בִּירַקְרַ֥ק חָרֽוּץ׃‎	When ye lie among the sheepfolds, The wings of the dove are covered with silver, And her pinions with the shimmer of gold. .
15	בְּפָ֘רֵ֤שׂ שַׁדַּ֓י מְלָ֘כִ֤ים בָּ֗הּ תַּשְׁלֵ֥ג בְּצַלְמֽוֹן׃‎	When the Almighty scattereth kings therein, It snoweth in Zalmon.
16	הַר־אֱ֭לֹהִים הַר־בָּשָׁ֑ן הַ֥ר גַּ֝בְנֻנִּ֗ים הַר־בָּשָֽׁן׃‎	A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A mountain of peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
17	לָ֤מָּה ׀ תְּֽרַצְּדוּן֮ הָרִ֢ים גַּבְנֻ֫נִּ֥ים הָהָ֗ר חָמַ֣ד אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְשִׁבְתּ֑וֹ אַף־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָנֶֽצַח׃‎	Why look ye askance, ye mountains of peaks, At the mountain which God hath desired for His abode? Yea, the LORD will dwell therein for ever.
18	רֶ֤כֶב אֱלֹהִ֗ים רִבֹּתַ֣יִם אַלְפֵ֣י שִׁנְאָ֑ן אֲדֹנָ֥י בָֿ֝֗ם סִינַ֥י בַּקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃‎	The chariots of God are myriads, even thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in holiness.
19	עָ֘לִ֤יתָ לַמָּר֨וֹם ׀ שָׁ֘בִ֤יתָ שֶּׁ֗בִי לָקַ֣חְתָּ מַ֭תָּנוֹת בָּאָדָ֑ם וְאַ֥ף ס֝וֹרְרִ֗ים לִשְׁכֹּ֤ן ׀ יָ֬הּ אֱלֹהִֽים׃‎	Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.
20	בָּ֤ר֣וּךְ אֲדֹנָי֮ י֤וֹם ׀ י֥֫וֹם יַעֲמׇס־לָ֗נוּ הָ֘אֵ֤ל יְֽשׁוּעָתֵ֬נוּ סֶֽלָה׃‎	Blessed be the Lord, day by day He beareth our burden, Even the God who is our salvation. Selah
21	הָ֤אֵ֣ל ׀ לָנוּ֮ אֵ֤ל לְֽמ֫וֹשָׁע֥וֹת וְלֵיהֹוִ֥ה אֲדֹנָ֑י לַ֝מָּ֗וֶת תֹּצָאֽוֹת׃‎	God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto GOD the Lord belong the issues of death.
22	אַךְ־אֱלֹהִ֗ים יִמְחַץ֮ רֹ֤אשׁ אֹ֫יְבָ֥יו קׇדְקֹ֥ד שֵׂעָ֑ר מִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בַּאֲשָׁמָֽיו׃‎	Surely God will smite through the head of His enemies, The hairy scalp of him that goeth about in his guiltiness.
23	אָמַ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי מִבָּשָׁ֣ן אָשִׁ֑יב אָ֝שִׁ֗יב מִֽמְּצֻל֥וֹת יָֽם׃‎	The Lord said: 'I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
24	לְמַ֤עַן ׀ תִּ֥מְחַ֥ץ רַגְלְךָ֗ בְּ֫דָ֥ם לְשׁ֥וֹן כְּלָבֶ֑יךָ מֵאֹיְבִ֥ים מִנֵּֽהוּ׃‎	That thy foot may wade through blood, That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from thine enemies.'
25	רָא֣וּ הֲלִיכוֹתֶ֣יךָ אֱלֹהִ֑ים הֲלִ֘יכ֤וֹת אֵלִ֖י מַלְכִּ֣י בַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃‎	They see Thy goings, O God, Even the goings of my God, my King, in holiness.
26	קִדְּמ֣וּ שָׁ֭רִים אַחַ֣ר נֹגְנִ֑ים בְּת֥וֹךְ עֲ֝לָמ֗וֹת תּוֹפֵפֽוֹת׃‎	The singers go before, the minstrels follow after, In the midst of damsels playing upon timbrels.
27	בְּֽ֭מַקְהֵלוֹת בָּרְכ֣וּ אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י מִמְּק֥וֹר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃‎	'Bless ye God in full assemblies, Even the Lord, ye that are from the fountain of Israel.'
28	שָׁ֤ם בִּנְיָמִ֨ן ׀ צָעִ֡יר רֹדֵ֗ם שָׂרֵ֣י יְ֭הוּדָה רִגְמָתָ֑ם שָׂרֵ֥י זְ֝בֻל֗וּן שָׂרֵ֥י נַפְתָּלִֽי׃‎	There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, The princes of Judah their council, The princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
29	צִוָּ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ עֻ֫זֶּ֥ךָ עוּזָּ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים ז֝֗וּ פָּעַ֥לְתָּ לָּֽנוּ׃‎	Thy God hath commanded thy strength; Be strong, O God, Thou that hast wrought for us
30	מֵ֭הֵיכָלֶךָ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם לְךָ֤ יוֹבִ֖ילוּ מְלָכִ֣ים שָֽׁי׃‎	Out of Thy temple at Jerusalem, Whither kings shall bring presents unto Thee.
31	גְּעַ֨ר חַיַּ֪ת קָנֶ֡ה עֲדַ֤ת אַבִּירִ֨ים ׀ בְּעֶגְלֵ֬י עַמִּ֗ים מִתְרַפֵּ֥ס בְּרַצֵּי־כָ֑סֶף בִּזַּ֥ר עַ֝מִּ֗ים קְרָב֥וֹת יֶחְפָּֽצוּ׃‎	Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, Every one submitting himself with pieces of silver; He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war!
32	יֶאֱתָ֣יוּ חַ֭שְׁמַנִּים מִנִּ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם כּ֥וּשׁ תָּרִ֥יץ יָ֝דָ֗יו לֵאלֹהִֽים׃‎	Nobles shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands unto God.
33	מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָ֭אָרֶץ שִׁ֣ירוּ לֵאלֹהִ֑ים זַמְּר֖וּ אֲדֹנָ֣י סֶֽלָה׃‎	Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah
34	לָ֭רֹכֵב בִּשְׁמֵ֣י שְׁמֵי־קֶ֑דֶם הֵ֥ן יִתֵּ֥ן בְּ֝קוֹל֗וֹ ק֣וֹל עֹֽז׃‎	To Him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which are of old; Lo, He uttereth His voice, a mighty voice.
35	תְּנ֥וּ עֹ֗ז לֵאלֹ֫הִ֥ים עַֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל גַּאֲוָת֑וֹ וְ֝עֻזּ֗וֹ בַּשְּׁחָקִֽים׃‎	Ascribe ye strength unto God; His majesty is over Israel, And His strength is in the skies.
36	נ֤וֹרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֗ים מִֽמִּקְדָּ֫שֶׁ֥יךָ אֵ֤ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל ה֤וּא נֹתֵ֨ן ׀ עֹ֖ז וְתַעֲצֻמ֥וֹת לָעָ֗ם בָּר֥וּךְ אֱלֹהִֽים׃‎	Awful is God out of thy holy places; The God of Israel, He giveth strength and power unto the people; Blessed be God.

King James Version

1. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
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.
3. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
5. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7. O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
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.
9. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10. Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
11. The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
12. Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
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.
14. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
15. The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; a high hill as the hill of Bashan.
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.
17. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
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.
19. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
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.
22. The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
23. That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
24. They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25. The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
26. Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
27. There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28. Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
29. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
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.
31. Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32. Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
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.
34. Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
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.

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 of Psalm 68 is referenced in the New Testament 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.

Roman Catholic liturgy

In the monastic tradition dating from the Early Middle Ages, this psalm was traditionally recited at the Matins office on Wednesday, according to the distribution of the rule of St. Benedict fixed at 530.

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:

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.

But, the more important use of this psalm in Eastern Orthodox tradition is in Easter Liturgy. Namely, all services on the Easter day and during the first week after Easter begin with chanting of this psalm, ie. an archpriest or a priest pronounces it, and all Church answers. Also, during saints' feasts, very often is used the last verse (Дивенъ Богъ въ свѧтыхъ своихъ...).

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, and is one of the psalms proper for Mattins on Whitsunday.

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 68 in a metred version in German, "Es steh Gott auf, daß seine Feind", SWV 165, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.

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 around 1710, a church cantata for the First Sunday after Trinity beginning with Psalm 68:20.

Handel's 1742 oratorio Messiah (HWV 56) cites verses 1 and 18 according to the King James Version.

British composer Havergal Brian incorporated the psalm in his Symphony No. 4 "Das Siegeslied", using the original Lutheran version in German, and translated into English.

Secular allussions

The second part of verse 31, "Ethiopia shall soon stretch her hands unto God" (Ge'ez: ኢትዮጵያ 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).)

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", where the King James Version has "but the rebellious dwell in a dry land"; runagate is an obsolete spelling of renegade.

External links

• 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
• Hymns for Psalm 67 hymnary.org