The Psalms of David
Day 13. Morning Prayer
Psalm 68.
Exurgat Deus
Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt thou drive them away : and like as wax melteth at the fire, so let the ungodly perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God : let them also be merry and joyful.
4 O sing unto God, and sing praises unto his Name : magnify him that rideth upon the heavens, as it were upon an horse; praise him in his Name jah, and rejoice before him.
5 He is a father of the fatherless, and defendeth the cause of the widows : even God in his holy habitation.
6 He is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in an house, and bringeth the prisoners out of captivity : but letteth the runagates continue in scarceness.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before the people : when thou wentest through the wilderness;
8 The earth shook, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God : even as Sinai also was moved at the presence of God, who is the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, sentest a gracious rain upon thine inheritance : and refreshedst it when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation shall dwell therein : for thou, O God, hast of thy goodness prepared for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word : great was the company of the preachers.
12 Kings with their armies did flee, and were discomfited : and they of the household divided the spoil.
13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove : that is covered with silver wings, and her feathers like gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings for their sake : then were they as white as snow in Salmon.
15 As the hill of Basan, so is God's hill : even an high hill, as the hill of Basan.
16 Why hop ye so, ye high hills? this is God's hill, in the which it pleaseth him to dwell : yea, the Lord will abide in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels : and the Lord is among them, as in the holy place of Sinai.
18 Thou art gone up on high, thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men : yea, even for thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Praised be the Lord daily : even the God who helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us.
20 He is our God, even the God of whom cometh salvation : God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
21 God shall wound the head of his enemies : and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his wickedness.
22 The Lord hath said, I will bring my people again, as I did from Basan : mine own will I bring again, as I did sometime from the deep of the sea.
23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies : and that the tongue of thy dogs may be red through the same.
24 It is well seen, O God, how thou goest : how thou, my God and King, goest in the sanctuary.
25 The singers go before, the minstrels follow after : in the midst are the damsels playing with the timbrels.
26 Give thanks, O Israel, unto God the Lord in the congregations : from the ground of the heart.
27 There is little Benjamin their ruler, and the princes of Judah their counsel : the princes of Zabulon, and the princes of Nephthali.
28 Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee : stablish the thing, O God, that thou hast wrought in us,
29 For thy temple's sake at Jerusalem : so shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30 When the company of the spear-men, and multitude of the mighty are scattered abroad among the beasts of the people, so that they humbly bring pieces of silver : and when he hath scattered the people that delight in war;
31 Then shall the princes come out of Egypt : the Morians' land shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, O ye kingdoms of the earth : O sing praises unto the Lord;
33 Who sitteth in the heavens over all from the beginning : lo, he doth send out his voice, yea, and that a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye the power to God over Israel : his worship and strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, wonderful art thou in thy holy places : even the God of Israel, he will give strength and power unto his people; blessed be God.
Text from The Book of Common Prayer, the rights in which are vested in the Crown,
is reproduced by permission of the Crown's Patentee, Cambridge University Press.