Psalms 48:4-14

4 For the kings met by agreement; together they advanced.

5 They saw and were filled with consternation; terrified, they took to flight.

6 Trembling took hold of them, pains like those of a woman in labor,

7 as when the wind out of the east wrecks the "Tarshish" ships.

8 We heard it, and now we see for ourselves in the city of ADONAI-Tzva'ot, in the city of our God. May God establish it forever. (Selah)

9 God, within your temple we meditate on your grace.

10 God, your praise, like your name, extends to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

11 Let Mount Tziyon rejoice, let the daughters of Y'hudah be glad, because of your judgment [on the enemy].

12 Walk through Tziyon, go all around it; count how many towers it has.

13 Note its ramparts, pass through its citadels, so that you can tell generations to come

14 that such is God, our God forever; he will guide us eternally.

Psalms 48:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 48

\\<>\\. This psalm is entitled a "song psalm", a psalm to be sung vocally; or "a song and psalm" to be sung both vocally and instrumentally; and is one of the spiritual songs the apostle speaks of, Eph 5:19; It was occasioned, as some think, by David's spoiling the Philistines, 2Sa 5:17-21; or, as others, by the deliverance of the people from the Moabites and Ammonites in the times of Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 20:27,28; or, as others, by the deliverance of the inhabitants of Jerusalem from Sennacherib in the times of Hezekiah, 2Ki 19:34,35; though as Kimchi, a celebrated Jewish commentator, owns, it belongs to the times of the Messiah, as the other preceding psalms; and treats of his greatness, and of the praise and glory due to him, and gives large encomiums of his church.