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For the director of music. A psalm of David.

21 Lord, the king is filled with joy because you are strong.
    How great is his joy because you help him win his battles!
You have given him what his heart wished for.
    You haven’t kept back from him what his lips asked for.
You came to greet him with rich blessings.
    You placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him.
    You promised him days that would never end.
His glory is great because you helped him win his battles.
    You have honored him with glory and majesty.
You have given him blessings that will never end.
    You have made him glad and joyful because you are with him.

The king trusts in the Lord.
    The faithful love of the Most High God
    will keep the king secure.

You, the king, will capture all your enemies.
    Your right hand will take hold of them.
When you appear for battle,
    you will burn them up like they were in a flaming furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his great anger.
    His fire will burn them up.
10 You will wipe their children from the face of the earth.
    You will remove them from the human race.
11 Your enemies make evil plans against you.
    They think up evil things to do. But they can’t succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs and run away
    when you aim your arrows at them.

13 Lord, may you be honored because you are strong.
    We will sing and praise your might.

Psalm 21[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.(A)
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!(B)

You have granted him his heart’s desire(C)
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.[b]
You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold(D) on his head.(E)
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.(F)
Through the victories(G) you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(H)
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy(I) of your presence.(J)
For the king trusts in the Lord;(K)
    through the unfailing love(L) of the Most High(M)
    he will not be shaken.(N)

Your hand will lay hold(O) on all your enemies;
    your right hand will seize your foes.
When you appear for battle,
    you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
    and his fire will consume them.(P)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    their posterity from mankind.(Q)
11 Though they plot evil(R) against you
    and devise wicked schemes,(S) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(T)
    when you aim at them with drawn bow.

13 Be exalted(U) in your strength, Lord;(V)
    we will sing and praise your might.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
  2. Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.