Psalm 20

Deliverance in Battle

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble;(A)
may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.(B)
May He send you help from the sanctuary
and sustain you from Zion.(C)
May He remember all your offerings
and accept your burnt offering.(D)Selah

May He give you what your heart desires(E)
and fulfill your whole purpose.(F)
Let us shout for joy at your victory(G)
and lift the banner in the name of our God.(H)
May Yahweh fulfill all your requests.(I)

Now I know that the Lord gives victory to His anointed;(J)
He will answer him from His holy heaven
with mighty victories from[a] His right hand.(K)
Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses,
but we take pride in the name of Yahweh our God.(L)
They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand firm.(M)
Lord, give victory to the king!(N)
May He[b] answer us on the day that we call.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 20:6 Some Hb mss, Aq, Sym, Jer, Syr read with the victorious might of
  2. Psalm 20:9 Or Lord, save. May the king

To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.

A Prayer for Victory

20 May the Lord answer you in the day of distress;
    may the name of the God of Jacob[a] protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary,
    and may he sustain you from Zion.
May he remember all your gifts,
    and may he accept your burnt offerings.
Interlude

May he give you what your heart desires,
    and may he fulfill all your plans.
May we shout for joy at your deliverance
    and unfurl our banners in the name of our God.
        May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the Lord has delivered his anointed;
    he has answered him from his sanctuary
        with the strength of his right hand of deliverance.
Some boast[b] in chariots,
    others in horses;
        but we will boast in[c] the name of the Lord our God.
While they bowed down and fell,
    we arose and stood upright.

Deliver us, Lord!
    Answer us, our King,[d] on the day we cry out!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 20:1 I.e. Israel
  2. Psalm 20:7 The Heb. lacks Some boast
  3. Psalm 20:7 Or remember
  4. Psalm 20:9 I.e. God