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Psalm chapter 48

English Standard Version

1 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. 4For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. 5As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. 6 Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor. 7By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. 8As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah 9We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. 10As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. 11Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments! 12Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, 13consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation 14that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.
New International Version

1A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. 2Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.
3God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress. 4When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, 5they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror. 6Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor.
7You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind.
8As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. 9Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. 10Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments. 12Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers,
13consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. 14For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
New American Standard Bible

1Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, His holy mountain. 2Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King. 3In its palaces, God has made Himself known as a stronghold. 4For, behold, the kings arrived, They passed by together. 5They saw it, then they were amazed; They were terrified, they fled in a hurry. 6 Panic seized them there, Anguish, as that of a woman in childbirth. 7With the east wind You smash the ships of Tarshish. 8Just as we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the Lord of armies, in the city of our God; God will establish her forever. Selah 9We have thought over Your goodness, God, In the midst of Your temple. 10As is Your name, God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. 11Mount Zion shall be glad, The daughters of Judah shall rejoice Because of Your judgments. 12Walk around Zion and encircle her; Count her towers; 13Consider her ramparts; Go through her palaces, So that you may tell of her to the next generation. 14For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will lead us until death.
Christian Standard Bible

1A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. The Lord is great and highly praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, 2rising splendidly, is the joy of the whole earth. Mount Zion—the summit of Zaphon— is the city of the great King.
3God is known as a stronghold in its citadels. 4Look! The kings assembled; they advanced together. 5They looked and froze with fear; they fled in terror. 6Trembling seized them there, agony like that of a woman in labor,
7as you wrecked the ships of Tarshish with the east wind.
8Just as we heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of Armies, in the city of our God; God will establish it forever. Selah 9God, within your temple, we contemplate your faithful love. 10Like your name, God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with justice.
11Mount Zion is glad. Judah’s villages rejoice because of your judgments. 12Go around Zion, encircle it; count its towers, 13note its ramparts; tour its citadels so that you can tell a future generation: 14"This God, our God forever and ever— he will always lead us."
New Living Translation

1How great is the Lord, how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on his holy mountain! 2It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King! 3God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers, revealing himself as its defender.
4The kings of the earth joined forces and advanced against the city. 5But when they saw it, they were stunned; they were terrified and ran away. 6They were gripped with terror and writhed in pain like a woman in labor. 7You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish shattered by a powerful east wind.
8We had heard of the city’s glory, but now we have seen it ourselves — the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever. Interlude
9O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. 10As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory. 11Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice. Let all the towns of Judah be glad because of your justice.
12Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem. Walk around and count the many towers. 13Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations. 14For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die.
King James Version

1A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
4For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
5They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
6Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
7Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
8As 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.
9We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
10According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
New King James Version

1{A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.} Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. 2 Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King. 3God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. 4For behold, the kings assembled, They passed by together. 5They saw it, and so they marveled; They were troubled, they hastened away. 6Fear took hold of them there, And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, 7 As when You break the ships of Tarshish With an east wind.
8As we have heard, So we have seen In the city of the Lord of hosts, In the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah
9We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple. 10According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. 11Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments. 12Walk about Zion, And go all around her. Count her towers; 13Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; That you may tell it to the generation following. 14For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.

What does Psalm chapter 48 mean?

This passage parallels ideas found in Psalms 44, 46 and 47. The city of Jerusalem is held up as a living example of God's greatness. The writer notes that history—to that point—had established the city as a place fortified by the power of the Lord (Psalm 48:1–3).

During the reign of Jehoshaphat, several nations combined forces to attack Jerusalem. Through God's miraculous intervention, the assault was thwarted without Israel needing to fight, at all (2 Chronicles 20). This psalm's description of kings fleeing in panic may refer to that event. Symbolically, the enemy's fear was as all-consuming as the pain of a woman giving birth. Likewise, mention of "ships of Tarshish" and "the east wind" appear to be symbolic notes describing God's vast superiority to any forces which might attack Jerusalem (Psalm 48:4–9).

Those viewing the city in the psalmist's time are encouraged to look at the intact walls, towers, and other defensive measures. These inspire the people living there—the "daughters of Judah"—to acknowledge God's favor. This reputation spreads around the entire world, along with God's glory. That the city is untouched hints at the failed siege of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19), which was routed by the Lord before any attack could be mounted. Just as prior generations passed along stories of God's redemption, so too should those who hear the psalm plan to tell others about the great things God had done for Israel (Psalm 48:10–14).
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