Christian prayer
Psalm 48
Psalm 48 from the Bible, with the original text and its meaning.
- 14 verses
- About 1 minute to recite
- From the Bible
- 1
A 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.
- 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.
The Hebrew original
1 שִׁ֥יר מִ֝זְמוֹר לִבְנֵי־קֹֽרַח׃
2 גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד בְּעִ֥יר אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַר־קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
3 יְפֵ֥ה נוֹף֮ מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ כָּל־הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ הַר־צִ֭יּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵ֣י צָפ֑וֹן קִ֝רְיַ֗ת מֶ֣לֶךְ רָֽב׃
4 אֱלֹהִ֥ים בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֶ֗יהָ נוֹדַ֥ע לְמִשְׂגָּֽב׃
5 כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה הַ֭מְּלָכִים נֽוֹעֲד֑וּ עָבְר֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃
6 הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ כֵּ֣ן תָּמָ֑הוּ נִבְהֲל֥וּ נֶחְפָּֽזוּ׃
7 רְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃
8 בְּר֥וּחַ קָדִ֑ים תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר אֳנִיּ֥וֹת תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃
9 כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֨עְנוּ ׀ כֵּ֤ן רָאִ֗ינוּ בְּעִיר־יְהוָ֣ה צְ֭בָאוֹת בְּעִ֣יר אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֱלֹ֘הִ֤ים יְכוֹנְנֶ֖הָ עַד־עוֹלָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃
10 דִּמִּ֣ינוּ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ בְּ֝קֶ֗רֶב הֵיכָלֶֽךָ׃
11 כְּשִׁמְךָ֤ אֱלֹהִ֗ים כֵּ֣ן תְּ֭הִלָּתְךָ עַל־קַצְוֵי־אֶ֑רֶץ צֶ֝֗דֶק מָלְאָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
12 יִשְׂמַ֤ח ׀ הַר־צִיּ֗וֹן תָּ֭גֵלְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת יְהוּדָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶֽיךָ׃
13 סֹ֣בּוּ צִ֭יּוֹן וְהַקִּיפ֑וּהָ סִ֝פְר֗וּ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ׃
14 שִׁ֤יתוּ לִבְּכֶ֨ם ׀ לְֽחֵילָ֗ה פַּסְּג֥וּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֥עַן תְּ֝סַפְּר֗וּ לְד֣וֹר אַחֲרֽוֹן׃
15 כִּ֤י זֶ֨ה ׀ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֵינוּ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד ה֖וּא יְנַהֲגֵ֣נוּ עַל־מֽוּת׃
Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here
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When it is prayed
Many Christians recite Psalm 48 in worship or personal prayer to praise God and reflect on his faithful care. It is also suitable for prayer about the life of the Church, drawing on its picture of God's people gathered in his city.
Where it comes from
Psalm 48 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible and belongs to the worship tradition of ancient Israel. Its heading associates it with the sons of Korah. It celebrates Zion, or Jerusalem, as the city of God and calls worshippers to remember God's steadfast love.
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Related prayers and texts
- ChristianPsalm 91A biblical psalm of trust in God’s shelter and protection amid danger.
- ChristianPsalm 23A biblical psalm of trust in God, pictured as a caring shepherd and generous host.
- ChristianPsalm 121A biblical psalm of trust in God as the keeper of those who look to him for help.
- ChristianPsalm 35A biblical psalm asking God for protection, justice and deliverance from enemies.
Questions about Psalm 48
What is Psalm 48 about?
Psalm 48 praises God's greatness and celebrates Jerusalem as his holy city. It connects the city's security with God's presence and ends with an affirmation of his guidance.
How many verses are in Psalm 48?
Psalm 48 has 14 verses.
How long does it take to recite?
It takes about 1 minute to recite, though a slower, reflective reading may take longer.
Who wrote Psalm 48?
Its heading associates it with the sons of Korah, a group connected with worship and music in ancient Israel. The individual author is not known with certainty.
