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Psalm 60
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 60
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 60[a]
Lament After Defeat in Battle
1 For the leader; according to “The Lily of.…” A miktam of David (for teaching), 2 when he fought against Aram-Naharaim and Aram-Zobah; and Joab, coming back, killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.(A)
I
3 O God, you rejected us, broke our defenses;
you were angry but now revive us.
4 You rocked the earth, split it open;(B)
repair the cracks for it totters.
5 You made your people go through hardship,
made us stagger from the wine you gave us.(C)
6 Raise up a banner for those who revere you,
a refuge for them out of bow shot.
Selah
7 [b]Help with your right hand and answer us
that your loved ones may escape.
II
8 [c]In the sanctuary God promised:
“I will exult, will apportion Shechem;
the valley of Succoth I will measure out.
9 Gilead is mine, mine is Manasseh;
Ephraim is the helmet for my head,
Judah, my own scepter.[d]
10 [e]Moab is my washbowl;
upon Edom I cast my sandal.(D)
I will triumph over Philistia.”
III
11 Who will bring me to the fortified city?[f]
Who will lead me into Edom?
12 Was it not you who rejected us, God?
Do you no longer march with our armies?(E)
13 Give us aid against the foe;
worthless is human help.
14 We will triumph with the help of God,
who will trample down our foes.
Footnotes
- Psalm 60 The community complains that God has let the enemy win the battle (Ps 60:3–5) and asks for an assurance of victory (Ps 60:6–7). In the oracle God affirms ownership of the land; the invasion of other nations is not permanent and will be reversed ultimately (Ps 60:8–10). With renewed confidence, the community resolves to fight again (Ps 60:11). The opening lament is picked up again (Ps 60:12), but this time with new awareness of God’s power and human limitation.
- 60:7–12 These verses occur again as the second half of Ps 108.
- 60:8 I will…apportion…measure out: God lays claim to these places. The valley of Succoth: probably the lower stretch of the Jabbok valley.
- 60:9 Judah, my own scepter: an allusion to the Testament of Jacob, Gn 49:10.
- 60:10 Moab is my washbowl: Moab borders the Dead Sea, hence a metaphor for the country. Upon Edom I cast my sandal: an ancient legal gesture of taking possession of land.
- 60:11 The fortified city: perhaps Bozrah, the fortified capital of Edom, cf. Is 34:6; 63:1; Am 1:12.
Psalm 60
New International Version
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)
1 You have rejected us,(C) God, and burst upon us;
you have been angry(D)—now restore us!(E)
2 You have shaken the land(F) and torn it open;
mend its fractures,(G) for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;(H)
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.(I)
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner(J)
to be unfurled against the bow.[e]
5 Save us and help us with your right hand,(K)
that those you love(L) may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(M)
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(N)
7 Gilead(O) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim(P) is my helmet,
Judah(Q) is my scepter.(R)
8 Moab is my washbasin,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.(S)”
9 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
- 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.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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