[1] Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, [2] Fair and beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth-Mount Zion [the City of David], to the northern side [Mount Moriah and the temple], the [whole] city of the Great King! [3] God has made Himself known in her palaces as a Refuge (a High Tower and a Stronghold). [4] For, behold, the kings assembled, they came onward and they passed away together. [5] They looked, they were amazed; they were stricken with terror and took to flight [affrighted and dismayed]. [6] Trembling took hold of them there, and pain as of a woman in childbirth. [7] With the east wind You shattered the ships of Tarshish. [8] As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! [9] We have thought of Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple. [10] As is Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness (rightness and justice). [11] Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Your [righteous] judgments! [12] Walk about Zion, and go round about her, number her towers (her lofty and noble deeds of past days), [13] Consider well her ramparts, go through her palaces and citadels, that you may tell the next generation [and cease recalling disappointments]. [14] For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide [even] until death.
