Psalm 20-21

New Living Translation

Psalm 20

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
    May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
²May he send you help from his sanctuary
    and strengthen you from Jerusalem.^[a]
³May he remember all your gifts
    and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude

⁴May he grant your heart’s desires
and make all your plans succeed.
⁵May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.

⁶Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.
    He will answer him from his holy heaven
    and rescue him by his great power.
⁷Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
    but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
⁸Those nations will fall down and collapse,
    but we will rise up and stand firm.

⁹Give victory to our king, O Lord!
Answer our cry for help.

Psalm 21

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord!
He shouts with joy because you give him victory.
²For you have given him his heart’s desire;
you have withheld nothing he requested. Interlude

³You welcomed him back with success and prosperity.
    You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.
⁴He asked you to preserve his life,
    and you granted his request.
    The days of his life stretch on forever.
⁵Your victory brings him great honor,
    and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.
⁶You have endowed him with eternal blessings
    and given him the joy of your presence.
⁷For the king trusts in the Lord.
    The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

⁸You will capture all your enemies.
    Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.
⁹You will throw them in a flaming furnace
    when you appear.
The Lord will consume them in his anger;
    fire will devour them.
¹⁰You will wipe their children from the face of the earth;
    they will never have descendants.
¹¹Although they plot against you,
    their evil schemes will never succeed.
¹²For they will turn and run
    when they see your arrows aimed at them.
¹³Rise up, O Lord, in all your power.
    With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.