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Song of Praise for Being Kept Safe

21 O Lord, in Your strength the king is glad! How great is his joy in Your saving power! You have given him the desire of his heart. You have not kept from him anything that he has asked for. For You meet him with gifts of good things. You set a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked You for life and You gave it to him, a long life forever and ever. His honor is great because of Your help. You have given him greatness and power. You have given him honor and respect forever. And You make him glad with the joy of being with You.

For the king trusts in the Lord. Because of the loving-kindness of the Most High, he will not be shaken. Your hand will find all who fight against You. Your right hand will find those who hate You. You will make them like a stove of fire in the time of Your anger. The Lord will eat them up in His anger. And the fire will destroy them. 10 You will destroy their children from the earth, and their sons from the children of men. 11 For they planned much trouble against You. They have made sinful plans that will come to nothing. 12 For You will make them turn their backs when You take up Your bow against them. 13 Be honored in Your strength, O Lord. We will sing and praise Your power.

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.