Psalm 60-61

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.

¹O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
    you have been angry; now restore us!^(A)
²You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;
    repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.^(B)
³You have made your people suffer hard things;
    you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.^(C)

⁴You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
to rally to it out of bowshot.^[a] Selah^(D)
⁵Give victory with your right hand and answer us,^[b]
so that those whom you love may be rescued.^(E)

⁶God has promised in his sanctuary,^[c]
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Vale of Succoth.^(F)
⁷Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet;
    Judah is my scepter.^(G)
⁸Moab is my washbasin;
    on Edom I hurl my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”^(H)

⁹Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
¹⁰Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go out, O God, with our armies.^(I)
¹¹O grant us help against the foe,
    for human help is worthless.^(J)
¹²With 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.

¹Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.^(L)
²From 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)
³for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.^(N)

⁴Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah^(O)
⁵For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.^(P)

⁶Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!^(Q)
⁷May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!^(R)

⁸So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day.^(S)

Footnotes

60.4 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb because of the truth
60.5 Or me
60.6 Or by his holiness

Psalm 60-61

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)

Psalm 61^[f]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

¹Hear my cry, O God;^(W)
listen to my prayer.^(X)

²From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;^(Y)
    lead me to the rock^(Z) that is higher than I.
³For you have been my refuge,^(AA)
    a strong tower against the foe.^(AB)

⁴I long to dwell^(AC) in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.^[g]^(AD)
⁵For you, God, have heard my vows;^(AE)
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.^(AF)

⁶Increase the days of the king’s life,^(AG)
his years for many generations.^(AH)
⁷May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;^(AI)
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.^(AJ)

⁸Then I will ever sing in praise of your name^(AK)
and fulfill my vows day after day.^(AL)

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.
Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 60-61

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.

Psalm 61

Assurance of God’s Protection

To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 60-61

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)

Psalm 61^[f]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 60-61 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.

Psalm 61

Assurance of God’s Protection

To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 60-61 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)

Psalm 61[f]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 60-61

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Psalm 60-61

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)

Psalm 61^[f]