Psalms 48

¹ Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. ² Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. ³ God is known in her palaces for a refuge. ⁴ For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. ⁵ They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. ⁶ Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. ⁷ Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. 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 for ever. Selah. ⁹ We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. ¹⁰ According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. ¹¹ Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. ¹² Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. ¹³ Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. ¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Study Helps

Glossary

City People v. 1-2, 8: The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain ( Gen. 4:17 ). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12).
Mount Zion Place v. 2, 11: Biblical hill. Modern identification: Mount Zion.
Zaphon Place v. 2: Biblical mountain. Modern identification: Jebel Aqra.
Jerusalem Place v. 3: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
Tarshish Place v. 7: A Sanscrit or Aryan word, meaning “the sea coast. ” (1. ) One of the “sons” of Javan ( Gen. 10:4 ; 1 Chr. 1:7 ). (2. ) The name of a place which first comes into notice in the days of Solomon. Modern identification: Huelva.
Zion Place v. 12: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.