Read the Bible

¹ Do something, God!
Scatter your hateful enemies.
    Make them turn and run.
² Scatter them like smoke!
    When you come near,
    make them melt
    like wax in a fire.
³ But let your people be happy
    and celebrate because of you.

⁴ Our God, you are the one
who rides on the clouds,
    and we praise you.
Your name is the Lord,
    and we celebrate
    as we worship you.

⁵ Our God, from your sacred home
    you take care of orphans
    and protect widows.
⁶ You find families
    for those who are lonely.
You set prisoners free
    and let them prosper,^[a]
    but all who rebel will live
    in a scorching desert.

⁷ You set your people free,
    and you led them
    through the desert.
⁸ God of Israel,
the earth trembled,
    and rain poured down.
You alone are the God
    who rules from Mount Sinai.
⁹ When your land was thirsty,
    you sent showers
    to refresh it.
¹⁰ Your people settled there,
    and you were generous
    to everyone in need.

¹¹ You gave the command,
    and a chorus of women told
    what had happened:
¹² "Kings and their armies
    retreated and ran,
    and everything they left
    is now being divided.
¹³ And for those who stayed back
    to guard the sheep,
there are metal doves
with silver-coated wings
    and shiny gold feathers."

¹⁴ God All-Powerful, you scattered
the kings
    like snow falling
    on Mount Zalmon.^[b]

¹⁵ Our Lord and our God,
    Bashan is a mighty mountain
    covered with peaks.
¹⁶ Why is it jealous of Zion,
    the mountain you chose
    as your home forever?

¹⁷ When you, Lord God, appeared
    to your people^[c] at Sinai,
    you came with thousands
    of mighty chariots.
¹⁸ When you climbed
    the high mountain,
    you took prisoners with you
    and were given gifts.
Your enemies didn't want you
to live there,
    but they gave you gifts.

¹⁹ We praise you, Lord God!
You treat us with kindness
    day after day,
    and you rescue us.
²⁰ You always protect us
    and save us from death.

²¹ Our Lord and our God,
your terrible enemies
    are ready for war,^[d]
    but you will crush
    their skulls.
²² You promised to bring them
from Bashan
    and from the deepest sea.
²³ Then we could stomp
    on their blood,
    and our dogs could chew
    on their bones.

²⁴ We have seen crowds marching
    to your place of worship,
    our God and King.
²⁵ The singers come first,
    and then the musicians,
    surrounded by young women
    playing tambourines.
²⁶ They come shouting,
    "People of Israel,
    praise the Lord God!"
²⁷ The small tribe of Benjamin
    leads the way,
    followed by the leaders
    from Judah.
Then come the leaders
    from Zebulun and Naphtali.

²⁸ Our God, show your strength!
    Show us once again.
²⁹ Then kings will bring gifts
    to your temple
    in Jerusalem.^[e]

³⁰ Punish that animal
    that lives in the swamp!^[f]
Punish that nation
    whose leaders and people
    are like wild bulls.
Make them come crawling
    with gifts of silver.
    Scatter those nations
    that enjoy making war.^[g]
31 Force the Egyptians to bring
    gifts of bronze;
    make the Ethiopians^[h] hurry
    to offer presents.^[i]

³² Now sing praises to God!
    Every kingdom on earth,
    sing to the Lord!
³³ Praise the one who rides
    across the ancient skies;
    listen as he speaks
    with a mighty voice.

³⁴ Tell about God's power!
He is honored in Israel,
    and he rules the skies.
³⁵ The God of Israel is fearsome
    in his temple,
    and he makes us strong.
    Let's praise our God!