Psalm 60

Contemporary English Version

(For the music leader. To the tune “Lily of the Promise.” A special psalm by David for teaching. He wrote it during his wars with the Arameans of northern Syria,^[a] when Joab came back and killed twelve thousand Edomites^[b] in Salt Valley.)

You Can Depend on God

¹^(A) You, God, are angry with us!
We are rejected and crushed.
    Make us strong again!
²You made the earth shake
    and split wide open;
now heal its wounds
    and stop its trembling.
³You brought hard times
    on your people,
and you gave us wine
    that made us stagger.

⁴You gave a signal to those
    who worship you,
so they could escape
    from enemy arrows.^[c]
⁵Answer our prayers, God!
Use your powerful arm
    and give us victory.
Then the people you love
    will be safe.

⁶Our God, you solemnly promised,
“I would gladly divide up
    the city of Shechem
and give away Succoth Valley
    piece by piece.
⁷The lands of Gilead
    and Manasseh are mine.
Ephraim is my war helmet,
and Judah is the symbol
    of my royal power.
⁸Moab is merely my washbasin.
    Edom belongs to me,
and I shout in triumph
    over the Philistines.”

⁹Our God, who will bring me
to the fortress,
    or lead me to Edom?
¹⁰Have you rejected us
    and deserted our armies?
¹¹Help us defeat our enemies!
    No one else can rescue us.
¹²You will give us victory
    and crush our enemies.

Footnotes

Psalm 60 wars … Syria: See 2 Samuel 8.3-8; 10.16-18; 1 Chronicles 18.3-11; 19.6-19.
Psalm 60 killed … Edomites: See 2 Samuel 8.13; 1 Chronicles 18.12.
60.4 so … arrows: Some ancient translations and one possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

Psalm 60

New International Version

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)

¹You have rejected us,^(C) God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry^(D)—now restore us!^(E)
²You have shaken the land^(F) and torn it open;
    mend its fractures,^(G) for it is quaking.
³You have shown your people desperate times;^(H)
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.^(I)
⁴But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner^(J)
    to be unfurled against the bow.^[e]

⁵Save us and help us with your right hand,^(K)
    that those you love^(L) may be delivered.
⁶God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem^(M)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.^(N)
⁷Gilead^(O) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim^(P) is my helmet,
    Judah^(Q) is my scepter.^(R)
⁸Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.^(S)”

⁹Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
¹⁰Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?^(T)
¹¹Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.^(U)
¹²With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.^(V)

Footnotes

Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 60

Contemporary English Version

(For the music leader. To the tune “Lily of the Promise.” A special psalm by David for teaching. He wrote it during his wars with the Arameans of northern Syria,^[a] when Joab came back and killed twelve thousand Edomites^[b] in Salt Valley.)

You Can Depend on God

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 60

New International Version

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)

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 60 Contemporary English Version

(For the music leader. To the tune “Lily of the Promise.” A special psalm by David for teaching. He wrote it during his wars with the Arameans of northern Syria,[a] when Joab came back and killed twelve thousand Edomites[b] in Salt Valley.)

You Can Depend on God

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 60 New International Version

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)

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 60

Contemporary English Version

(For the music leader. To the tune “Lily of the Promise.” A special psalm by David for teaching. He wrote it during his wars with the Arameans of northern Syria,^[a] when Joab came back and killed twelve thousand Edomites^[b] in Salt Valley.)

Psalm 60

New International Version

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)