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 for ever.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.
Psalm 48
English Standard Version
Zion, the City of Our God
1A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, (Ps 2:6; Ps 42:1; Ps 46:1; Ps 46:4; Ps 87:1; Ps 96:4; Ps 145:3; Isa 2:3; Mic 4:1; Zec 8:3)2beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. (Ps 50:2; La 2:15; Eze 20:6; Mt 5:35)3Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.4For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. (2Sa 10:6)5As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight.6Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor. (Ex 15:15; Isa 13:8; Ho 13:13)7By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. (1Ki 10:22; 1Ki 22:48; Jer 18:17; Eze 27:26)8As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. (Ps 48:1; Ps 87:5; Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1)9We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. (Ps 26:3; Ps 40:10)10As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. (Ex 34:5; De 28:58; Ps 22:27; Ps 113:3; Mal 1:11; Mal 1:14)11Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments! (Ps 97:8)12Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers,13consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation (Ps 78:4; Ps 122:7)14that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.[1] (Ps 23:3)