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God Is Our Mighty Fortress

46 God is our mighty fortress,
    always ready to help
    in times of trouble.
And so, we won’t be afraid!
    Let the earth tremble
    and the mountains tumble
    into the deepest sea.
Let the ocean roar and foam,
    and its raging waves
    shake the mountains.

A river and its streams
    bring joy to the city,
    which is the sacred home
    of God Most High.
God is in that city,
and it won’t be shaken.
    He will help it at dawn.

Nations rage! Kingdoms fall!
    But at the voice of God
    the earth itself melts.
The Lord All-Powerful
    is with us.
    The God of Jacob
    is our fortress.

Come! See the fearsome things
    the Lord has done on earth.
God brings wars to an end
    all over the world.
He breaks the arrows,
shatters the spears,
    and burns the shields.[a]
10 Our God says, “Calm down,
    and learn that I am God!
    All nations on earth
    will honor me.”

11 The Lord All-Powerful
    is with us.
    The God of Jacob
    is our fortress.

(A psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

God Rules the Nations

47 All of you nations,
clap your hands
    and shout
    joyful praises to God.
The Lord Most High is fearsome,
    the ruler of all the earth.
God has put every nation
    under our power,
and he chose for us the land
    that was the pride of Jacob,
    his favorite.

God goes up to his throne,
    as people shout
    and trumpets blast.
Sing praises to God our King,
    the ruler of all the earth!
    Praise God with songs.

God rules the nations
    from his sacred throne.
Their leaders come together
    and are now the people
    of Abraham’s God.
All rulers on earth
surrender their weapons,
    and God is greatly praised!

(A song and a psalm for the people of Korah.)

The City of God

48 The Lord God is wonderful!
He deserves all praise
    in the city where he lives.
His holy mountain,
beautiful and majestic,
    brings joy to all on earth.
Mount Zion, truly sacred,
    is home for the Great King.
God is there to defend it
    and has proved to be
    its protector.

Kings joined forces
    to attack the city,
but when they saw it,
    they were terrified
    and ran away.
They trembled all over
    like women giving birth
    or like seagoing ships[b]
    wrecked by eastern winds.
We had heard about it,
and now we have seen it
    in the city of our God,
    the Lord All-Powerful.
This is the city that God
    will let stand forever.

Our God, here in your temple
    we think about your love.
10 You are famous and praised
    everywhere on earth,
    as you win victories
    with your powerful arm.
11 Mount Zion will celebrate,
and all Judah will be glad,
    because you bring justice.

12 Let’s walk around Zion
    and count its towers.
13     We will see its strong walls
    and visit each fortress.
Then you can say
    to future generations,
14 “Our God is like this forever
    and will always[c] guide us.”


Don’t Depend on Wealth

49 Everyone on this earth,
    now listen to what I say!
    Listen, no matter who you are,
    rich or poor.
I speak words of wisdom,
    and my thoughts make sense.
I have in mind a mystery
    that I will explain
    while playing my harp.

Why should I be afraid
    in times of trouble,
    when I am surrounded
    by vicious enemies?
They trust in their riches
    and brag about
    all of their wealth.
You cannot buy back your life
    or pay off God!
    It costs far too much
    to buy back your life.
You can never pay God enough
    to stay alive forever
    and safe from death.

10 We see that wise people die,
    and so do stupid fools.
    Then their money is left
    for someone else.
11 The grave[d] will be their home
    forever and ever,
    although they once had land
    of their own.
12 Our human glory disappears,
    and, like animals, we die.

13 Here is what happens to fools
    and to those who trust
    the words of fools:
14 They are like sheep
with death as their shepherd,
    leading them to the grave.[e]
In the morning God’s people
    will walk all over them,
    as their bodies lie rotting
    in their home, the grave.
15 But God will rescue me
    from the power of death.

16 Don’t let it bother you
    when others get rich
    and live in luxury.
17 Soon they will die
    and all of their wealth
    will be left behind.

18 We humans are praised
    when we do well,
    and all of us are glad
    to be alive.
19 But we each will go down
    to our ancestors,
    never again to see
    the light of day.
20 Our human glory disappears,
    and, like animals, we die.

(A psalm by Asaph.)

What Pleases God

50 From east to west,
    the powerful Lord God
    has been calling together
    everyone on earth.
God shines brightly from Zion,
    the most beautiful city.

Our God approaches,
    but not silently;
    a flaming fire comes first,
    and a storm surrounds him.
God comes to judge his people.
    He shouts to the heavens
    and to the earth,
“Call my followers together!
They offered me a sacrifice,
    and we made an agreement.”

The heavens announce,
“God is the judge,
    and he is always honest.”

My people, I am God!
    Israel, I am your God.
    Listen to my charges
    against you.
Although you offer sacrifices
    and always bring gifts,
    I won’t accept your offerings
    of bulls and goats.

10 Every animal in the forest
    belongs to me,
    and so do the cattle
    on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds
    in the mountains,
    and every wild creature
    is in my care.

12 If I were hungry,
    I wouldn’t tell you,
    because I own the world
    and everything in it.
13 I don’t eat the meat of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats.
14 I am God Most High!
    The only sacrifice I want
    is for you to be thankful
    and to keep your word.
15 Pray to me in time of trouble.
    I will rescue you,
    and you will honor me.

16 But to the wicked I say:
    “You don’t have the right
to mention my laws
    or claim
    to keep our agreement!
17 You refused correction
    and rejected my commands.
18 You made friends
    with every crook you met,
    and you liked people who break
    their wedding vows.
19 You talked only about violence
    and told nothing but lies;
20 you sat around gossiping,
    ruining the reputation
    of your own relatives.”

21 When you did all of this,
I didn’t say a word,
    and you thought,
“God is just like us!”
    But now I will accuse you.
22 You have ignored me!
    So pay close attention
    or I will tear you apart,
    and no one can help you.

23 The sacrifice that honors me
    is a thankful heart.
Obey me,[f]
    and I, your God,
    will show my power to save.


  1. 46.9 shields: Or “chariots.”
  2. 48.7 seagoing ships: The Hebrew text has “ships of Tarshish,” which probably means large, seagoing ships.
  3. 48.14 always: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  4. 49.11 The grave: Some ancient translations; Hebrew “Their inward thoughts.”
  5. 49.14 as their. . . grave: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  6. 50.23 Obey me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.