1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
5 They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
1 [[A Song H7892 and Psalm H4210 for the sons H1121 of Korah.]] H7141 Great H1419 is the LORD, H3068 and greatly H3966 to be praised H1984 in the city H5892 of our God, H430 in the mountain H2022 of his holiness. H6944
2 Beautiful H3303 for situation, H5131 the joy H4885 of the whole earth, H776 is mount H2022 Zion, H6726 on the sides H3411 of the north, H6828 the city H7151 of the great H7227 King. H4428
3 God H430 is known H3045 in her palaces H759 for a refuge. H4869
4 For, lo, the kings H4428 were assembled, H3259 they passed by H5674 together. H3162
5 They saw H7200 it, and so they marvelled; H8539 they were troubled, H926 and hasted away. H2648
6 Fear H7461 took hold H270 upon them there, and pain, H2427 as of a woman in travail. H3205
7 Thou breakest H7665 the ships H591 of Tarshish H8659 with an east H6921 wind. H7307
8 As we have heard, H8085 so have we seen H7200 in the city H5892 of the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 in the city H5892 of our God: H430 God H430 will establish H3559 it for H5704 ever. H5769 Selah. H5542
9 We have thought H1819 of thy lovingkindness, H2617 O God, H430 in the midst H7130 of thy temple. H1964
10 According to thy name, H8034 O God, H430 so is thy praise H8416 unto the ends H7099 of the earth: H776 thy right hand H3225 is full H4390 of righteousness. H6664
11 Let mount H2022 Zion H6726 rejoice, H8055 let the daughters H1323 of Judah H3063 be glad, H1523 because of thy judgments. H4941
12 Walk about H5437 Zion, H6726 and go round about H5362 her: tell H5608 the towers H4026 thereof.
13 Mark H7896 ye well H3820 her bulwarks, H2430 consider H6448 her palaces; H759 that ye may tell H5608 it to the generation H1755 following. H314
14 For this God H430 is our God H430 for ever H5769 and ever: H5703 he will be our guide H5090 even unto death. H4192
1 Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, `on' the sides of the north, The city of the great King.
3 God hath made himself known in her palaces for a refuge.
4 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.
5 They saw it, then were they amazed; They were dismayed, they hasted away.
6 Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.
7 With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah
9 We have thought on thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of thy temple.
10 As is thy name, O God, So is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her; Number the towers thereof;
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces: That ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide `even' unto death. Psalm 49 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah. Great `is' Jehovah, and praised greatly, In the city of our God -- His holy hill.
2 Beautiful `for' elevation, A joy of all the land, `is' Mount Zion, The sides of the north, the city of a great king.
3 God in her high places is known for a tower.
4 For, lo, the kings met, they passed by together,
5 They have seen -- so they have marvelled, They have been troubled, they were hastened away.
6 Trembling hath seized them there, Pain, as of a travailing woman.
7 By an east wind Thou shiverest ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so we have seen, In the city of Jehovah of hosts, In the city of our God, God doth establish her -- to the age. Selah.
9 We have thought, O God, of Thy kindness, In the midst of Thy temple,
10 As `is' Thy name, O God, so `is' Thy praise, Over the ends of the earth, Righteousness hath filled Thy right hand.
11 Rejoice doth Mount Zion, The daughters of Judah are joyful, For the sake of Thy judgments.
12 Compass Zion, and go round her, count her towers,
13 Set your heart to her bulwark, Consider her high places, So that ye recount to a later generation,
14 That this God `is' our God -- To the age and for ever, He -- he doth lead us over death!
1 {A Song; a Psalm. Of the sons of Korah.} Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the hill of his holiness.
2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3 God is known in her palaces as a high fortress.
4 For behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together;
5 They saw, -- so they marvelled; they were troubled, they fled in consternation:
6 Trembling took hold upon them there; anguish, as of a woman in travail.
7 With an east wind thou hast broken the ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God doth establish it for ever. Selah.
9 We have thought, O God, of thy loving-kindness, in the midst of thy temple.
10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: count the towers thereof;
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces: that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide until death.
1 > Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion, on the north sides, The city of the great King.
3 God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge.
4 For, behold, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.
5 They saw it, then they were amazed. They were dismayed, They hurried away.
6 Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.
7 With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish.
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 it forever. Selah.
9 We have thought about your loving kindness, God, In the midst of your temple.
10 As is your name, God, So is your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go around her. Number its towers;
13 Mark well her bulwarks. Consider her palaces, That you may tell it to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.
1 <A Song. A Psalm. Of the sons of Korah.> Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, in the town of our God, in his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in its high position, the joy of all the earth, is the mountain of Zion, the mountain of God, the town of the great King.
3 In its buildings God is seen to be a high tower.
4 For see! the kings came together by agreement, they were joined together.
5 They saw it, and so were full of wonder; they were troubled, and went quickly away in fear.
6 Shaking came on them and pain, as on a woman in childbirth.
7 By you the ships of Tarshish are broken as by an east wind.
8 As it came to our ears so have we seen it, in the town of the Lord of armies, in the town of our God; God will keep it fixed for ever. (Selah.)
9 Our thoughts were of your mercy, O God, while we were in your Temple.
10 As your name is, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth; your right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let there be joy in the mountain of Zion, and let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your wise decisions.
12 Make your way about Zion, and go round it, numbering its towers.
13 Take note of its strong walls, looking well at its fair buildings; so that you may give word of it to the generation which comes after.
14 Because this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 48
Commentary on Psalms 48 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 48
Ps 48:1-14. This is a spirited Psalm and song (compare Ps 30:1), having probably been suggested by the same occasion as the foregoing. It sets forth the privileges and blessings of God's spiritual dominion as the terror of the wicked and joy of the righteous.
1. to be praised—always: it is an epithet, as in Ps 18:3.
mountain of his holiness—His Church (compare Isa 2:2, 3; 25:6, 7, 10); the sanctuary was erected first on Mount Zion, then (as the temple) on Moriah; hence the figure.
2, 3. situation—literally, "elevation."
joy of, &c.—source of joy.
sides of the north—poetically for eminent, lofty, distinguished, as the ancients believed the north to be the highest part of the earth (compare Isa 14:13).
3. palaces—literally, "citadels."
refuge—(Ps 9:10; 18:3). He was so known in them because they enjoyed His presence.
4-6. For—The reason is given. Though the kings (perhaps of Moab and Ammon, compare Ps 83:3-5) combined, a conviction of God's presence with His people, evinced by the unusual courage with which the prophets (compare 2Ch 20:12-20) had inspired them, seized on their minds, and smitten with sudden and intense alarm, they fled astonished.
7. ships of Tarshish—as engaged in a distant and lucrative trade, the most valuable. The phrase may illustrate God's control over all material agencies, whether their literal destruction be meant or not.
8. This present experience assures of that perpetual care which God extends to His Church.
9. thought of—literally, "compared," or considered, in respect of former dealings.
in the … temple—in acts of solemn worship (compare 2Ch 20:28).
10. According … praise—that is, As Thy perfections manifested (compare Ps 8:1; 20:1-7), demand praise, it shall be given, everywhere.
thy right hand, &c.—Thy righteous government is displayed by Thy power.
11. the daughters, &c.—the small towns, or the people, with the chief city, or rulers of the Church.
judgments—decisions and acts of right government.
12-14. The call to survey Zion, or the Church, as a fortified city, is designed to suggest "how well our God secures His fold." This security is perpetual, and its pledge is His guidance through this life.