Psalm 68 is the 68th
psalm
The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...
of the
Book of Psalms
The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived f ...
, or Psalm 67 in
Septuagint
The Greek Old Testament, or Septuagint (, ; from the la, septuaginta, lit=seventy; often abbreviated ''70''; in Roman numerals, LXX), is the earliest extant Greek translation of books from the Hebrew Bible. It includes several books beyond th ...
and
Vulgate
The Vulgate (; also called (Bible in common tongue), ) is a late-4th-century Latin translation of the Bible.
The Vulgate is largely the work of Jerome who, in 382, had been commissioned by Pope Damasus I to revise the Gospels u ...
numbering. In the English of the
King James Version
The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an Bible translations into English, English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and publis ...
it begins "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered". In the
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
Vulgate version it begins "Exsurgat Deus et dissipentur inimici eius". It has 35 verses (36 according to
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
numbering).
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...
writer
Arno C. Gaebelein
Arno Clemens Gaebelein (August 27, 1861 – December, 1945) was a Methodist minister in the United States. He was a prominent teacher and conference speaker. He was also the father of educator and philosopher of Christian education Frank E. Gaebel ...
calls it "The Great Redemption Accomplished" and describes it as "one of the greatest Psalms".
[Gaebelein, A. C. (1919)]
Gaebelein's Annotated Bible
on Psalm 68, accessed 10 December 2021
Psalm 68 is used in both Jewish and Christian liturgies, and also in that of
Ethiopianist new religious movements such as
Rastafari
Rastafari, sometimes called Rastafarianism, is a religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion. There is no central authority in control of ...
. It has often been set to music, such as
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'', ''Marche en rondeau''. This theme is still us ...
's ''Exurgat Deus'' (H.215) in Latin around 1690, for soloists, chorus, two treble instruments and continuo. Handel used verses 11 and 18 in his 1742
oratorio
An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...
''
Messiah
In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; ,
; ,
; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of ''mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach'' ...
'' (
HWV 56).
Text
Hebrew / English parallel version
Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 68:
King James Version
#Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
# As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
# But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
# Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
# A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
# God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
# O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
# The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
# Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
# Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
# The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
# Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
# Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
# When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
# The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; a high hill as the hill of Bashan.
# Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
# The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
# Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
# Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
# He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
# But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
# The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
# That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
# They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
# The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
# Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
# There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
# Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
# Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
# Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
# Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
# Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
# To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
# Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
# O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
Name of God
According to Gaebelein, the
name of God
There are various names of God, many of which enumerate the various qualities of a Supreme Being. The English word ''god'' (and its equivalent in other languages) is used by multiple religions as a noun to refer to different deities, or speci ...
is found in this psalm in seven different forms:
Jehovah
Jehovah () is a Latinization of the Hebrew , one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament. The Tetragrammaton is considered one of the seven names of God in Judais ...
(or YHWH), Adonai, El, Shaddai, Jah (or Yah), Jehovah-Adonai and Jah-Elohim.
Uses
In Judaism
According to the "Complete
ArtScroll
ArtScroll is an imprint of translations, books and commentaries from an Orthodox Jewish perspective published by Mesorah Publications, Ltd., a publishing company based in Rahway, New Jersey. Rabbi Nosson Scherman is the general editor.
ArtScroll' ...
Siddur" as edited by
Nosson Scherman
Nosson Scherman ( he, נתן שרמן, born 1935, Newark, New Jersey) is an American Haredi rabbi best known as the general editor of ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications.
Early life
Scherman was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where his paren ...
in 1984, isolated verses from the psalm are part of contemporary Jewish liturgy:
*Verses 5-6 are part of the prayers recited following
Motzei Shabbat The term Motza'ei Shabbat ( he, מוצאי שבת—literally, the going out of the Sabbath) in Judaism refers to the time in the evening immediately following Shabbat, that is Saturday night. It is a time when, following one's declaration of the in ...
Maariv
''Maariv'' or ''Maʿariv'' (, ), also known as ''Arvit'' (, ), is a Jewish prayer service held in the evening or night. It consists primarily of the evening ''Shema'' and '' Amidah''.
The service will often begin with two verses from Psalms, ...
(p. 609),
*Verse 20 is part of
Uva Letzion (p. 157),
*Verses 35-36 are the fourth and fifth verses of
V'hu Rachum in
Pesukei Dezimra (p. 62).
According to "The ArtScroll Tehillim" by Hillel Danziger (1989, p. 329), in some traditions, the entire psalm is recited on
Shavuot
(''Ḥag HaShavuot'' or ''Shavuos'')
, nickname = English: "Feast of Weeks"
, observedby = Jews and Samaritans
, type = Jewish and Samaritan
, begins = 6th day of Sivan (or the Sunday following the 6th day of Sivan i ...
.
New Testament
Verse 18 of Psalm 68 is referenced in the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
in
Ephesians
The Epistle to the Ephesians is the tenth book of the New Testament. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to Paul the Apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as Deutero-Pauline, that is, pseudepigrapha written in Pau ...
4:8:
:
: Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
The passage in the psalm makes reference to the
Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant,; Ge'ez: also known as the Ark of the Testimony or the Ark of God, is an alleged artifact believed to be the most sacred relic of the Israelites, which is described as a wooden chest, covered in pure gold, with an e ...
ascending to
Mount Zion
Mount Zion ( he, הַר צִיּוֹן, ''Har Ṣīyyōn''; ar, جبل صهيون, ''Jabal Sahyoun'') is a hill in Jerusalem, located just outside the walls of the Old City (Jerusalem), Old City. The term Mount Zion has been used in the Hebrew ...
, and
Paul
Paul may refer to:
*Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name)
*Paul (surname), a list of people
People
Christianity
*Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...
is here
drawing a comparison to the
Ascension of Jesus
The Ascension of Jesus (anglicized from the Vulgate la, ascensio Iesu, lit=ascent of Jesus) is the Christian teaching that Christ physically departed from Earth by rising to Heaven, in the presence of eleven of his apostles. According to the N ...
.
Roman Catholic liturgy
In the monastic tradition dating from the
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th or early 6th century to the 10th century. They marked the start of the Mi ...
, this psalm was traditionally recited at the
Matins
Matins (also Mattins) is a canonical hour in Christian liturgy, originally sung during the darkness of early morning.
The earliest use of the term was in reference to the canonical hour, also called the vigil, which was originally celebrated by ...
office on Wednesday, according to the distribution of the
rule of St. Benedict
The ''Rule of Saint Benedict'' ( la, Regula Sancti Benedicti) is a book of precepts written in Latin in 516 by St Benedict of Nursia ( AD 480–550) for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot.
The spirit of Saint Benedict's Ru ...
fixed at 530.
In the current
Liturgy of the Hours
The Liturgy of the Hours (Latin: ''Liturgia Horarum'') or Divine Office (Latin: ''Officium Divinum'') or ''Opus Dei'' ("Work of God") are a set of Catholic prayers comprising the canonical hours, often also referred to as the breviary, of the ...
, Psalm 68 is recited or sung at the Reading Office on Tuesday of the third week in the four weekly cycle. It is also read on the 22nd Sunday of
Ordinary Time
Ordinary Time ( la, Tempus per annum) is the part of the liturgical year in the liturgy of the Roman Rite, which falls outside the two great seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, or their respective preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. Or ...
in year C in the triennial cycle of the Sunday masses.
Eastern Orthodox tradition
The first two verses of the psalm's
Church Slavonic
Church Slavonic (, , literally "Church-Slavonic language"), also known as Church Slavic, New Church Slavonic or New Church Slavic, is the conservative Slavic liturgical language used by the Eastern Orthodox Church in Belarus, Bosnia and Herzeg ...
version form the beginning of the "Prayer of the Cross" or in the
Russian
Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including:
*Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
tradition part of the daily evening prayers:
:Да воскре́снетъ Богъ, и расточа́тся врази́ Его́, и да бѣжа́тъ отъ лица́ Его́ ненави́дящіи Его́. Я́ко исчеза́етъ дымъ, да исче́знутъ; я́ко та́етъ воскъ отъ лица́ огня́, та́ко да поги́бнутъ бѣси отъ лица́ лю́бящихъ Бо́га и зна́менующихся кре́стнымъ зна́меніемъ
:Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so let them be driven away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the face of those who love God and who are signified by the sign of the cross.
Book of Common Prayer
In the
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...
's ''
Book of Common Prayer
The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the name given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign ...
'', this is the sole psalm appointed to be read on the morning of the 13th day of the month.
[Church of England]
Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter
as printed by John Baskerville
John Baskerville (baptised 28 January 1707 – 8 January 1775) was an English businessman, in areas including japanning and papier-mâché, but he is best remembered as a printer and type designer. He was also responsible for inventing "wov ...
in 1762, p. 244
Musical settings
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'', ''Marche en rondeau''. This theme is still us ...
composed ''Exurgat Deus'' (H.215) around 1690, set for soloists, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo.
Philipp Heinrich Erlebach
Philipp Heinrich Erlebach (25 July 1657 – 17 April 1714) was a German Baroque composer, a prolific writer of church music and secular music. Much of his work is lost due to a fire.
Life
Erlebach was born in Esens, Lower Saxony, the son of Jo ...
composed ''
Gelobet sei der Herr täglich
(Praised be the Lord daily) is a church cantata by Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, for four voices, strings and continuo. The first movement is based on Psalm 68:20. Erlebach structured the composition in six movements, with the last movement repeatin ...
'' around 1710, a
church cantata for the First Sunday after Trinity beginning with Psalm 68:20.
Handel's 1742
oratorio
An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...
''
Messiah
In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; ,
; ,
; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of ''mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach'' ...
'' (HWV 56) cites verses 1 and 18 according to the
King James Version
The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an Bible translations into English, English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and publis ...
.
[
]
Secular references
The second part of verse 31, "Ethiopia shall soon stretch her hands unto God" (
Ge'ez: ''ኢትዮጵያ ታበድ አደዊሃ ሃበ አግዚአብሐር'', ''Itiyopia tabetsih edewiha habe Igziabiher'') was used in the
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...
of Emperor
Haile Selassie
Haile Selassie I ( gez, ቀዳማዊ ኀይለ ሥላሴ, Qädamawi Häylä Səllasé, ; born Tafari Makonnen; 23 July 189227 August 1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia (' ...
, and was also
formerly used as the
national motto
This article lists state and national mottos for the world's nations. The mottos for some states lacking general international recognition, extinct states, non-sovereign nations, regions, and territories are listed, but their names are not bold ...
of Ethiopia. (The original Hebrew refers to
Cush (כוש).)
Psalm 68:31
biblehub.com
John Buchan
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (; 26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation.
After a brief legal career ...
's collection of short stories The Runagates Club
''The Runagates Club'' is a 1928 collection of short stories by the Scottish author John Buchan. The collection consists of twelve tales presented as reminiscences of members of ''The Runagates Club'', a London dining society. Several of the sto ...
(1928) derives its title from verse 6, which in the Book of Common Prayer
The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the name given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign ...
reads "but letteth the runagates continue in scarceness", where the King James Version has "but the rebellious dwell in a dry land"; ''runagate'' is an obsolete spelling of ''renegade
Renegade or The Renegade may refer to:
Aircraft
*Lake Renegade, an American amphibious aircraft design
*Murphy Renegade, a Canadian ultralight biplane design
*Southern Aeronautical Renegade, an American racing aircraft design
Games
*'' Comman ...
''.
References
External links
*
*
* in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre
* Text of Psalm 68 according to th
1928 Psalter
For the leader. A psalm of David; a song. / May God arise; may his enemies be scattered; / may those who hate him flee before him.a
text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
Psalm 68 – The Victorious Procession of God to Zion
enduringword.com
Psalm 68 / Refrain: Sing to God, sing praises to his name.
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...
Psalm 68
at biblegateway.com
{{Psalms
068
Works attributed to David