Psalm 60

Prayer in Difficult Times

For the choir director: according to “The Lily of Testimony.”[a] A Davidic Miktam for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, killing 12,000.(A)

God, You have rejected us;
You have broken out[b] against us;
You have been angry. Restore us![c](B)
You have shaken the land and split it open.
Heal its fissures, for it shudders.(C)
You have made Your people suffer hardship;
You have given us wine to drink
that made us stagger.(D)
You have given a signal flag to those who fear You,
so that they can flee before the archers.[d](E)Selah
Save with Your right hand, and answer me,
so that those You love may be rescued.(F)

God has spoken in His sanctuary:[e]
“I will triumph! I will divide up Shechem.(G)
I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.(H)
Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine,
and Ephraim is My helmet;(I)
Judah is My scepter.(J)
Moab is My washbasin.(K)
I throw My sandal on Edom;(L)
I shout in triumph over Philistia.”(M)

Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?(N)
10 God, haven’t You rejected us?
God, You do not march out with our armies.(O)
11 Give us aid against the foe,
for human help is worthless.(P)
12 With God we will perform valiantly;(Q)
He will trample our foes.(R)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 60:1 Possibly a tune; Pss 45; 69; 80
  2. Psalm 60:1 Lit have burst through
  3. Psalm 60:1 Or Turn back to us
  4. Psalm 60:4 Or can rally before the archers, or can rally because of the truth
  5. Psalm 60:6 Or has promised by His holy nature

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.

60 O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.

God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;

Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

10 Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?

11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.