Berean Standard Bible · Public domain

Psalm 48

Israel’s prayers give language for praise, grief, repentance, and trust. Poetry uses imagery and parallel lines; each psalm should be read as a whole rather than as a detached promise.

Historical context & book outline

1A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.

2Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.

3God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be a fortress.

4For behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together.

5They saw and were astounded; they fled in terror.

6Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.

7With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.

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 her forever. Selah

9Within Your temple, O God, we contemplate Your loving devotion.

10Your name, O God, like Your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.

11Mount Zion is glad, the daughters of Judah rejoice, on account of Your judgments.

12March around Zion, encircle her, count her towers,

13consider her ramparts, tour her citadels, that you may tell the next generation.

14For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even till death.

Read closely

  1. What repeated words, contrasts, or actions stand out in this chapter?
  2. How does this chapter fit the surrounding chapters and the book’s purpose?
  3. What did it communicate to its first hearers, before applying it to your life?