The Greatness of God in Zion

¹ A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.¹ Yahweh is great and very worthy of praise in the city of our God, in his ⌞holy mountain⌟.²

1. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
2. Literally “mountain of holiness”

² Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is ⌞Mount Zion⌟,¹ ⌞in the far north⌟,² the city of the great king.

1. Literally “the mountain of Zion”
2. Literally “far of north”; the word translated “north” could refer to Mount Zaphon

³ God is in her citadels; he is known as a high stronghold.

⁴ For see, the kings assembled;¹ they advanced together.

1. That is, preparing for battle

⁵ ⌞They themselves saw⌟¹ it, so they were astonished. They were terrified; they ran off.

1. Literally “They, they saw”

⁶ Trembling seized them there— pain as of a woman in labor.

⁷ With an east wind you shatter¹ the ships of Tarshish.²

1. A few Hebrew manuscripts read “like an east wind that shatters”
2. That is, ships that can sail to Tarshish, i.e. well built, able to traverse great distances

⁸ As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of Yahweh of hosts, in the city of our God. God will establish her forever. Selah

⁹ We have pondered your loyal love, O God, in the midst of your temple.

¹⁰ As is your name, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness.

¹¹ Let ⌞Mount Zion⌟¹ rejoice; let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.

1. Literally “the mountain of Zion”

¹² Walk about Zion and circle it; count her towers.

¹³ ⌞Consider well⌟¹ her ramparts. Go through her citadels so that you can tell the next generation

1. Literally “Set your heart to”

¹⁴ that this is God, our God forever and ever. ⌞He himself⌟¹ will guide us until death.

1. Literally “he, he will …”