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Psalm 60

For the worship leader. A prayer[a] of David after his victory over the Arameans, Joab’s return, and the striking down of 12,000 Edomites in the valley of Salt. A song for instruction to the tune “A Lily Reminds Us.[b]

This is a communal lament recalling David’s battles with Zobah and Naharaim from Aram (Syria) and Joab’s victory over the Edomites (2 Samuel 8).

God, You have turned away from us;
    You have shattered us into a million tiny pieces;
    You have boiled with anger.
    Now put us back together, and refresh us with Your mercy.
You have made the earth shake; You have cracked it open effortlessly.
    Heal the fissures in the earth, for it is unsteady.
You have caused Your people to suffer;
    You have provided us with wine that makes us stagger.

You have unfurled a banner for those who revere You,
    a signal to gather in safety out of the enemy’s reach.

[pause][c]

So that Your treasured ones may be saved,
    rescue us with Your right hand, and answer our pleas!

God’s voice has been heard in His holy sanctuary:
    “I will celebrate; I will allocate Shechem
    and the Succoth Valley to My people.
Gilead belongs to Me, and so does Manasseh;
    Ephraim is the helmet that protects My head;
    Judah is the scepter through which I rule;
Moab is the washpot in which I rinse My feet.
    I will throw My shoe over Edom in conquest;
    prepare for My victory, Philistia. Cry out because of Me!”

But who will take me into the fortified city?
    Who will lead me into Edom?
10 Have You not turned Your back on us, O God?
    Will You stay away and not accompany our armies, O God?
11 Help us against our enemy; we need Your help!
    It’s useless to trust in the hand of man for liberation.
12 Only through God can we be successful.
    It is God alone who will defeat our enemies and bring us victory!

Footnotes

  1. 60:title Hebrew, miktam, meaning is uncertain.
  2. 60:title Hebrew, shushan eduth, meaning is uncertain.
  3. 60:4 Literally, selah, likely a musical direction from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up”

Urgent Prayer for the Restored Favor of God(A)

To the Chief Musician. (B)Set to [a]“Lily of the Testimony.” A Michtam of David. For teaching. (C)When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

60 O God, (D)You have cast us off;
You have broken us down;
You have been displeased;
Oh, restore us again!
You have made the earth tremble;
You have broken it;
(E)Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.
(F)You have shown Your people hard things;
(G)You have made us drink the wine of [b]confusion.

(H)You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
(I)That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and hear me.

God has (J)spoken in His holiness:
“I will rejoice;
I will (K)divide (L)Shechem
And measure out (M)the Valley of Succoth.
Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;
(N)Ephraim also is the [c]helmet for My head;
(O)Judah is My lawgiver.
(P)Moab is My washpot;
(Q)Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
(R)Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me.”

Who will bring me to the strong city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not You, O God, (S)who cast us off?
And You, O God, who did (T)not go out with our armies?
11 Give us help from trouble,
(U)For the help of man is useless.
12 Through God (V)we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 60:1 Heb. Shushan Eduth
  2. Psalm 60:3 staggering
  3. Psalm 60:7 Lit. protection