Prayer for Victory over Enemies.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

20 May the Lord answer you (A)on a day of trouble!
May the (B)name of the (C)God of Jacob [a]protect you!
May He send you help (D)from the sanctuary,
And (E)support you from Zion!
May He (F)remember all your meal offerings
And [b](G)accept your burnt offering! Selah

May He grant you your (H)heart’s desire
And (I)fulfill your whole plan!
[c]We will (J)sing for joy over your [d]victory,
And in the name of our God we will (K)set up our banners.
May the Lord (L)fulfill all your desires.

Now (M)I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will (N)answer him from His holy heaven
With the [e](O)saving strength of His right hand.
Some praise their chariots and some their (P)horses,
But (Q)we will praise the name of the Lord, our God.
They have (R)bowed down and fallen,
But we have (S)risen and stood upright.
[f](T)Save, Lord;
May the (U)King answer us on the day we call.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 20:1 Lit make you high and inaccessible
  2. Psalm 20:3 Lit consider your...as fat
  3. Psalm 20:5 Or Let’s sing
  4. Psalm 20:5 Or salvation
  5. Psalm 20:6 Or mighty deeds of the victory of His right hand
  6. Psalm 20:9 Or O Lord, save the king; answer us

20 1-4 God answer you on the day you crash,
The name God-of-Jacob put you out of harm’s reach,
Send reinforcements from Holy Hill,
Dispatch from Zion fresh supplies,
Exclaim over your offerings,
Celebrate your sacrifices,
Give you what your heart desires,
Accomplish your plans.

When you win, we plan to raise the roof
    and lead the parade with our banners.
May all your wishes come true!

That clinches it—help’s coming,
    an answer’s on the way,
    everything’s going to work out.

7-8 See those people polishing their chariots,
    and those others grooming their horses?
    But we’re making garlands for God our God.
The chariots will rust,
    those horses pull up lame—
    and we’ll be on our feet, standing tall.

Make the king a winner, God;
    the day we call, give us your answer.