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New American Standard Bible 1995

Psalm 48

1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King.
3 God, in her palaces, Has made Himself known as a stronghold.
4 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.
5 They saw it, then they were amazed; They were terrified, they fled in alarm.
6 Panic seized them there, Anguish, as of a woman in childbirth.
7 With the east wind You break the ships of Tarshish.
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 her forever. Selah.
9 We have thought on Your lovingkindness, 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 be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice Because of Your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion and go around her; Count her towers;
13 Consider her ramparts; Go through her palaces, That you may tell it to the next generation.
14 For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.

Chapter Summary

Zion, the city of God, stands beautiful and secure, for God is in her citadels as her guide forever.

Book Summary

Psalms is the Bible's songbook: one hundred fifty prayers and hymns of praise, lament, thanksgiving, and trust, many attributed to David. From the depths of despair to the heights of worship, it has voiced the prayers of God's people for millennia.