Psalms 68:5-18

5God is a father for those who have no father. He takes care of widows. He rules from his holy home.

6God gives homes and a family to lonely people. He makes prisoners go free so that they are happy. But people who turn against him have to live in a hot, dry land.

7God, you led your people out. You took them across the desert. Selah.

8Then the ground shook, and rain poured down from the sky. You showed your power at Sinai mountain. You are the God who rules at Sinai. You are the God that Israel's people serve.

9God, you caused much rain to fall on your special land. You made it fresh again when it had been dry.

10Your own people came to live in it. God, because you are kind, you gave many good things to poor people.

11The Lord gives a command! Very many women take his message to other places.

12Kings with large armies quickly run away. Yes, they run away! The women at home share the valuable things that the armies have left behind.

13Even those who stayed to take care of the sheep found valuable things, like a dove with silver wings and bright gold feathers.

14When the Almighty God chased away foreign kings, it was like snow that fell on Mount Zalmon.

15Bashan mountain is great, like God. It has many high rocks.

16You high mountains, why are you jealous when you look at Zion mountain? That is the mountain where God has chosen to live. Yes, that is where the Lord will live for ever!

17God has millions of chariots. The Lord has come from Sinai mountain to his own holy place.

18When you went up to the highest place, you took many prisoners with you. You received gifts from men, even from the men who had fought against you. Yes, the Lord God lives there!