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.

Psalm 21

The King’s Victory

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

Lord, the king finds joy in Your strength.
How greatly he rejoices in Your victory!(O)
You have given him his heart’s desire(P)
and have not denied the request of his lips.(Q)Selah
For You meet him with rich blessings;
You place a crown of pure gold on his head.(R)
He asked You for life, and You gave it to him—
length of days forever and ever.(S)
His glory is great through Your victory;
You confer majesty and splendor on him.(T)
You give him blessings forever;(U)
You cheer him with joy in Your presence.(V)
For the king relies on the Lord;
through the faithful love of the Most High
he is not shaken.(W)

Your hand will capture all your enemies;
your right hand will seize those who hate you.(X)
You will make them burn
like a fiery furnace when you appear;
the Lord will engulf them in His wrath,
and fire will devour them.(Y)
10 You will wipe their descendants from the earth
and their offspring from the human race.(Z)
11 Though they intend to harm[c] you
and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail.(AA)
12 Instead, you will put them to flight
when you aim your bow[d] at their faces.(AB)

13 Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength;
we will sing and praise Your might.(AC)

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
  3. Psalm 21:11 Lit they stretch out evil against
  4. Psalm 21:12 Lit aim with your bowstrings

Psalm 20[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(A)
    may the name of the God of Jacob(B) protect you.(C)
May he send you help(D) from the sanctuary(E)
    and grant you support(F) from Zion.(G)
May he remember(H) all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.[b](I)
May he give you the desire of your heart(J)
    and make all your plans succeed.(K)
May we shout for joy(L) over your victory
    and lift up our banners(M) in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.(N)

Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.(O)
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.(P)
Some trust in chariots(Q) and some in horses,(R)
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(S)
They are brought to their knees and fall,(T)
    but we rise up(U) and stand firm.(V)
Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us(W) when we call!

Psalm 21[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

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

You have granted him his heart’s desire(Z)
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.[d]
You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold(AA) on his head.(AB)
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.(AC)
Through the victories(AD) you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(AE)
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy(AF) of your presence.(AG)
For the king trusts in the Lord;(AH)
    through the unfailing love(AI) of the Most High(AJ)
    he will not be shaken.(AK)

Your hand will lay hold(AL) 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.(AM)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    their posterity from mankind.(AN)
11 Though they plot evil(AO) against you
    and devise wicked schemes,(AP) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(AQ)
    when you aim at them with drawn bow.

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

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
  2. Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
  4. Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.