Psalm 60-63
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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.
1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; now restore us!(A)
2 You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.(B)
3 You have made your people suffer hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.(C)
4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
to rally to it out of bowshot.[a] Selah(D)
5 Give victory with your right hand and answer us,[b]
so that those whom you love may be rescued.(E)
6 God has promised in his sanctuary,[c]
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.(F)
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.(G)
8 Moab is my washbasin;
on Edom I hurl my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”(H)
9 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)
Psalm 61
Assurance of God’s Protection
To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.(L)
2 From the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,(M)
3 for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.(N)
4 Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah(O)
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.(P)
6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!(Q)
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!(R)
8 So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day.(S)
Psalm 62
Song of Trust in God Alone
To the leader: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.(T)
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall never be shaken.(U)
3 How long will you assail a person,
will you batter your victim, all of you,
as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?(V)
4 Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.
They take pleasure in falsehood;
they bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah(W)
5 For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.(X)
7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.(Y)
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah(Z)
9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.(AA)
10 Put no confidence in extortion,
and set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.(AB)
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,(AC)
12 and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.
For you repay to all
according to their work.(AD)
Psalm 63
Comfort and Assurance in God’s Presence
A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah.
1 O God, you are my God; I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.(AE)
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.(AF)
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.(AG)
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.(AH)
5 My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,[d]
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips(AI)
6 when I think of you on my bed
and meditate on you in the watches of the night,(AJ)
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.(AK)
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.(AL)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.