Psalm 48
International Children’s Bible
Jerusalem, the City of God
A song of the sons of Korah.
48 The Lord is great; he should be praised
in the city of our God, on his holy mountain.
2 It is high and beautiful.
It brings joy to the whole world.
Mount Zion is like the high mountains of the north.
It is the city of the Great King.
3 God is within its palaces.
He is known as its protection.
4 Kings joined together
and came together to attack the city.
5 But when they saw it, they were amazed.
They ran away in fear.
6 Fear took hold of them.
They hurt like a woman having a baby.
7 You destroyed the large trading ships
with an east wind.
8 First we heard.
And now we have seen that
God will always keep his city safe.
It is the city of the Lord of heaven’s armies,
the city of our God. Selah
9 God, we come into your Temple.
There we think about your love.
10 God, your name is known everywhere.
Everywhere on earth people praise you.
Your right hand is full of goodness.
11 Mount Zion is happy.
All the towns of Judah rejoice
because your decisions are fair.
12 Walk around Jerusalem
and count its towers.
13 Notice how strong they are. Look at the palaces.
Then you will be able to tell your children about them.
14 This God is our God forever and ever.
He will guide us from now on.
Psalm 48
English Standard Version
Zion, the City of Our God
A Song. A Psalm of (A)the Sons of Korah.
48 (B)Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in (C)the city of our God!
His (D)holy mountain, 2 (E)beautiful in elevation,
is (F)the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
(G)the city of the great King.
3 Within her citadels God
has made himself known as a fortress.
4 For behold, (H)the kings assembled;
they came on together.
5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
they were in panic; they took to flight.
6 (I)Trembling took hold of them there,
anguish (J)as of a woman in labor.
7 By (K)the east wind you (L)shattered
the ships of (M)Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in (N)the city of our God,
which God will (O)establish forever. Selah
9 We have thought on your (P)steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10 As your (Q)name, O God,
so your praise reaches to (R)the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Let Mount (S)Zion be glad!
Let (T)the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments!
12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
number her towers,
13 consider well her (U)ramparts,
go through her citadels,
(V)that you may tell the next generation
14 that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
He will (W)guide us forever.[a]
Footnotes
- Psalm 48:14 Septuagint; another reading is (compare Jerome, Syriac) He will guide us beyond death
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
