Psalm 48

¹Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, in the town of our God, in his holy mountain.

²Beautiful in its high position, the joy of all the earth, is the mountain of Zion, the mountain of God, the town of the great King.

³In its buildings God is seen to be a high tower.

⁴For see! the kings came together by agreement, they were joined together.

⁵They saw it, and so were full of wonder; they were troubled, and went quickly away in fear.

⁶Shaking came on them and pain, as on a woman in childbirth.

⁷By you the ships of Tarshish are broken as by an east wind.

⁸As it came to our ears so have we seen it, in the town of the Lord of armies, in the town of our God; God will keep it fixed for ever. (Selah.)

⁹Our thoughts were of your mercy, O God, while we were in your Temple.

¹⁰As your name is, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth; your right hand is full of righteousness.

¹¹Let there be joy in the mountain of Zion, and let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your wise decisions.

¹²Make your way about Zion, and go round it, numbering its towers.

¹³Take note of its strong walls, looking well at its fair buildings; so that you may give word of it to the generation which comes after.

¹⁴Because this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide.