Add parallel Print Page Options

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A teaching poem by David, when he fought with Aram Naharaim and with Aram Zobah, and Joab returned, and killed twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

60 God, you have rejected us.
    You have broken us down.
You have been angry.
    Restore us, again.
You have made the land tremble.
    You have torn it.
Mend its fractures,
    for it quakes.
You have shown your people hard things.
    You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger.
You have given a banner to those who fear you,
    that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

So that your beloved may be delivered,
    save with your right hand, and answer us.
God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “I will triumph.
    I will divide Shechem,
    and measure out the valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine.
    Ephraim also is the defense of my head.
    Judah is my scepter.
Moab is my wash basin.
    I will throw my sandal on Edom.
    I shout in triumph over Philistia.”

Who will bring me into the strong city?
    Who has led me to Edom?
10 Haven’t you, God, rejected us?
    You don’t go out with our armies, God.
11 Give us help against the adversary,
    for the help of man is vain.
12 Through God we will do valiantly,
    for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.

Psalm 60

Prayer for National Victory after Defeat

To the leader: according to the Lily of the Covenant. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
    you have been angry; now restore us!(A)
You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;
    repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.(B)
You have made your people suffer hard things;
    you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.(C)

You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
    to rally to it out of bowshot.[a] Selah(D)
Give victory with your right hand and answer us,[b]
    so that those whom you love may be rescued.(E)

God has promised in his sanctuary,[c]
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Vale of Succoth.(F)
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet;
    Judah is my scepter.(G)
Moab is my washbasin;
    on Edom I hurl my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”(H)

Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go out, O God, with our armies.(I)
11 O grant us help against the foe,
    for human help is worthless.(J)
12 With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes.(K)

Footnotes

  1. 60.4 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb because of the truth
  2. 60.5 Or me
  3. 60.6 Or by his holiness