(Worship leader: This Asaph psalm is best sung accompanied by guitar and cello.)
God is famous in Judah.
Everybody knows him in Israel.
He’s a local in Peace Town,
His home in Zion.
That’s where he bent gun barrels into pretzels,
Defused bombs,
Trashed tanks,
Grounded fighter planes,
Wrecking every weapon of war.
You’re more glorious than a long-awaited dawn,
More majestic than a wild horse
Galloping through a mountainous canyon.
Courageous soldiers look so peaceful
In death,
Slumped as if sleeping.
Motionless,
None will fight another battle.
You gave the order, Jacob’s God
And the war machine stopped in its tracks
For good.
Our eyes are fixed on you.
Why pay attention to anyone else?
No army can stand against you.
When you announced your decision,
The earth fell silent
And listened with full focus —
When you slammed down your Judge’s gavel
To rule in favor of the victimized everywhere.
Yours is the only anger to be approved of
And applauded,
For only your anger brings justice,
Salvation.
So, step up and promise yourself
To Yahweh, your God,
And live in line with your promises.
Let all people everywhere
Offer everything they have as tribute
To the only One who matters.
Rebel rulers give up,
Realizing how useless it is
To resist him.