Psalm 48 is a triumphant Song of Zion - a poem celebrating God’s absolute protection of Jerusalem and the terrified flight of enemy kings at the sight of his holy mountain.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

In Zion’s high city we lift our song To the Lord our God, our shelter and our strength On the holy hill where his name is known

Lovely in its heights, the gladness of all the earth Stands the mountain of the north, the seat of the great King There God has made himself known within her walls A tower of safety, a sure defense

For behold, the kings assembled They advanced together They looked, and they were astonished They panicked and fled away

Trembling seized them where they stood Anguish like a woman in labor With the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish

What we were told, our eyes behold In the city of the Lord of Armies In the city of our God God will hold this city through every age

We have pondered your steadfast love, O God In the midst of your temple Like your name, O God So your praise reaches the ends of the earth Your right hand is filled with righteousness

Let the hill of Zion be glad Let the towns of Judah sing for joy At the justice you have shown Make your way around Zion, walk her round

Count her towers one by one Take note of her ramparts Look well upon her palaces That you may tell it to the age to come

This God alone is ours through every age to come Our shepherd guiding us past death’s own door In Zion’s high city we lift our song again

Listen

Psalms 48 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press