1 <A Song. A Psalm. Of the sons of Korah.> Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, in the town of our God, in his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful 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.
3 In its buildings God is seen to be a high tower.
4 For see! the kings came together by agreement, they were joined together.
5 They saw it, and so were full of wonder; they were troubled, and went quickly away in fear.
6 Shaking came on them and pain, as on a woman in childbirth.
7 By you the ships of Tarshish are broken as by an east wind.
8 As 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.)
9 Our thoughts were of your mercy, O God, while we were in your Temple.
10 As your name is, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth; your right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let there be joy in the mountain of Zion, and let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your wise decisions.
12 Make your way about Zion, and go round it, numbering its towers.
13 Take 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.
14 Because this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Psalm 48 praise?
What happened when the kings assembled against the city?
What does the psalm ask people to do with the city's walls and towers?
Today's Verse
For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
Verse Of The DayWorshippers are told to walk about Zion, count her towers, and mark her bulwarks so they can report it to the next generation. The chapter closes on the trust that 'this God is our God for ever and ever,' a guide echoed at Isaiah 58:11, before the wisdom psalm of Psalms 49.
