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30 For to your temple in Jerusalem
    kings will come to you bearing gifts.[a]
31 Rebuke those wild beasts of the reeds,[b]
    the herd of mighty bulls, the calves of nations,
who bring bars of silver and prostrate themselves;
    rout the nations that delight in war.
32 Envoys will come from Egypt;
    Ethiopia will stretch out its hands to God.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 68:30 The defeated nations, led by their kings, will bring tribute to the Lord who has established his majesty in his temple at Jerusalem (see Ps 76:12; Isa 18:7; 60:3-7; 66:20; Hag 2:7; Zec 2:11-13; 6:15; 8:21f; Rev 21:24).
  2. Psalm 68:31 The prayer contains a petition to strike the nations that will not submit to the Lord. Wild beasts of the reeds: the reference is to the crocodile, a symbol for Egypt (see Ezek 29:3), which in turn stands for all the hostile nations. Herd of mighty bulls: the “lords of nations” who oppress and seduce their peoples. Bars of silver: tribute from the foreign nations brought to Zion.
  3. Psalm 68:32 Egypt will submit, as will Ethiopia (i.e., the upper Nile region) who usually formed an alliance with Egypt (see Isa 18:1—19:15; 20:1-6).

30 Rebuke the beast(A) among the reeds,(B)
    the herd of bulls(C) among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
    Scatter the nations(D) who delight in war.(E)
31 Envoys will come from Egypt;(F)
    Cush[a](G) will submit herself to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,(H)
    sing praise(I) to the Lord,

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 68:31 That is, the upper Nile region