Psalm 68

From the Genevan Psalter

We sometimes sing Psalm 68 at Psalm Roar, to a very lively Genevan tune. It needs to be sung quickly - at a marching pace - to engage with the spiritual warfare themes of the psalm. Even at speed, we only sing 6 out of a possible 12 verses. But we should sing all 12! Here are words for the whole Psalm. And here as a PDF document.

God shall arise, and by His might

put all His enemies to flight;

in conquest He shall quell them.

Let those who hate Him, scattered, flee

before His glorious majesty,

for God Himself shall fell them.

Just as the wind drives smoke away,

so God will scatter the array

of those who evil cherish.

As wax that melts before the fire,

so vanquished by God’s dreadful ire,

shall all the wicked perish.

2. Now let the just with joyful voice

In God’s victorious might rejoice;

let them exult before Him!

O sing to God, His praise proclaim

and with your psalms extol His Name;

in joyful song adore Him.

Lift up your voice and sing aloud

to Him who rides upon the clouds

high in the spacious heavens.

The LORD, that is His glorious Name.

Rejoice in Him with loud acclaim;

to Him be glory given.

3. He, Father to the fatherless,

defence of widows in distress,

is in His habitation.

God in the goodness of His grace

gives lonely ones a dwelling-place;

He grants them consolation.

He leads the captive out to see

the joys of new-found liberty,

for bounteous is God’s mercy.

But who against Him dare rebel

most certainly with famine dwell,

in deserts dry and thirsty.

4. O God, when You went on ahead

and through the barren desert led

the flock You had assembled,

You caused the earth to quake and cower;

O God of Isr’el, great in power,

before You, Sinai trembled.

You, with abundant rain, O LORD,

Your weary heritage restored

and, as You had decided,

You let your people settle there;

You blessed them with your lavish care

and for the poor provided.

5. When God but spoke His mighty word,

great was the host whose shouts were heard:

as they proclaimed their tidings:

“The kings are fleeing in despair!

Our women in the plunder share,

the spoils of war dividing!

To those who stayed at home they bring

as gift a dove with silvered wings

and brightly gilded feathers.”

Before the LORD the kings all fled

like drifting snow on Zalmon spread

by blasts of stormy weather.

6. O Bashan’s mountain, massive height,

far higher than all peaks in sight,

so great in rugged grandeur!

O you, whose tops are seen from far,

whose peaks so high and numerous are,

majestic in their splendour!

Why do you still with envy look

at Zion’s mount, which God once took

and made His throne’s location?

There He for evermore will dwell;

the LORD once made this humble hill

His glorious habitation.

7. With mighty chariotry untold,

His host ten thousand thousand-fold,

the LORD came to His nation.

From Sinai, God victoriously

has come into His sanctuary;

His holy habitation.

When You, O Lord, went up again,

You led Your captives in Your train

with gifts from men obtaining,

Tribute from those who did rebel,

that here the LORD our God may dwell,

here evermore remaining.

8. Blest be the LORD, who on our way

provides for us, and day by day

upholds us by His power.

God of Salvation is His Name;

this glorious Name shall we proclaim.

He is our shield and tower.

Our God, the LORD, is strong to save

from mortal danger, from the grave

and every cruel oppression.

But God will crush the head of foes,

the hairy crown of him who goes

in ways of foul transgression.

9. The LORD has spoken: “My own hand

will bring your foes from far-off lands;

from Bashan I will guide them

From the remotest shores and seas

I will retrieve your enemies,

though ocean depths should hide them,

For I your triumph will complete,

that you with joy may bathe your feet

in blood of conquered nations.

And see your dogs lap up their share

as for My people I prepare

My righteous vindication.”

10. The solemn throngs are gathered here;

to God, my King, do they draw near.

Ttey come with sounding cymbals:

The singers first, the minstrels last;

and in among them, filing past,

the maidens play their timbrels.

In this great congregation’s throng

let God be praised in joyful song,

O Jacob’s generation!

There Benjamin, the smallest clan,

leads Naphtali and Zebulun,

Judah and all the nation!

11. Lord, let Your glorious power be known;

show us the strength on which Your own

Have in the past depended.

Because You have Your temple here,

kings in Jerusalem appear

with gifts for You intended.

Rebuke the beasts among the reeds,

both bulls and calves, those filled with greed,

all who in war take pleasure.

Let envoys come from Egypt’s land;

to God let Ethiopia’s hand

stretch out to give its treasure.

12. Praise God and shout His glory forth,

O kings and kingdoms of the earth!

In joyful song adore Him.

Praise Him who rides the ancient sky,

Who thunders forth His battle cry;

let all bow down before Him.

Proclaim His pow’r and spread His fame,

for great in Isr’el is His name;

His might is in the heavens.

O awesome God, from temple throne

power and strength flows to Your own.

All praise to You be given.

The words in this video are VanOene words, before creating this composite text in May 2026.

These words above a composite of two main sources, though I suspect the Book of Praise version is already an updated version of VanOene. I have also written a few lines of my own, e.g. in verse 7 and verse 12.

Words by VanOene at https://genevanpsalter.com/files/psalm-68/genps068_vanoene

Words from Book of Praise https://bookofpraise.ca/ (the Interactive Digital Version is an excellent resource)

Tim Vasby-Burnie, May 2026