48:1 A song, a psalm by the Korahites.

The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise

in the city of our God, ²  his holy hill.

48:2 It is lofty and pleasing to look at, ³ 

a source of joy to the whole earth. ⁴ 

Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon; ⁵ 

it is the city of the great king.

48:3 God is in its fortresses;

he reveals himself as its defender. ⁶ 

48:4 For ⁷  look, the kings assemble; ⁸ 

they advance together.

48:5 As soon as they see, ⁹  they are shocked; ¹⁰ 

they are terrified, they quickly retreat. ¹¹ 

48:6 Look at them shake uncontrollably, ¹² 

like a woman writhing in childbirth. ¹³ 

48:7 With an east wind

you shatter ¹⁴  the large ships. ¹⁵ 

48:8 We heard about God’s mighty deeds, now we have seen them, ¹⁶ 

in the city of the Lord, the invincible Warrior, ¹⁷ 

in the city of our God.

God makes it permanently secure. ¹⁸  (Selah)

48:9 We reflect on your loyal love, O God,

within your temple.

48:10 The praise you receive as far away as the ends of the earth

is worthy of your reputation, O God. ¹⁹ 

You execute justice! ²⁰ 

48:11 Mount Zion rejoices;

the towns ²¹  of Judah are happy, ²² 

because of your acts of judgment. ²³ 

48:12 Walk around ²⁴  Zion! Encircle it!

Count its towers!

48:13 Consider its defenses! ²⁵ 

Walk through ²⁶  its fortresses,

so you can tell the next generation about it! ²⁷ 

48:14 For God, our God, is our defender forever! ²⁸ 

He guides ²⁹  us! ³⁰