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Prayer for National Victory after Defeat

To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

60 O God, thou hast rejected us, broken our defenses;
    thou hast been angry; oh, restore us.
Thou hast made the land to quake, thou hast rent it open;
    repair its breaches, for it totters.
Thou hast made thy people suffer hard things;
    thou hast given us wine to drink that made us reel.

Thou hast set up a banner for those who fear thee,
    to rally to it from the bow.[a]Selah
That thy beloved may be delivered,
    give victory by thy right hand and answer us!

God has spoken in his sanctuary:[b]
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
Gilead is mine; Manas′seh is mine;
    E′phraim is my helmet;
    Judah is my scepter.
Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Hast thou not rejected us, O God?
    Thou dost not go forth, O God, with our armies.
11 O grant us help against the foe,
    for vain is the help of man!
12 With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 60:4 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb truth
  2. Psalm 60:6 Or by his holiness

Psalm 60[a](A)

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam[b] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim[c] and Aram Zobah,[d] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.(B)

You have rejected us,(C) God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry(D)—now restore us!(E)
You have shaken the land(F) and torn it open;
    mend its fractures,(G) for it is quaking.
You have shown your people desperate times;(H)
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.(I)
But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner(J)
    to be unfurled against the bow.[e]

Save us and help us with your right hand,(K)
    that those you love(L) may be delivered.
God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(M)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(N)
Gilead(O) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim(P) is my helmet,
    Judah(Q) is my scepter.(R)
Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.(S)

Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?(T)
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.(U)
12 With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.(V)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
  2. Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
  4. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
  5. Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.