Psalm 21

The King’s Victory

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

Lord, the king finds joy in your strength.
How greatly he rejoices in your victory!(A)
You have given him his heart’s desire(B)
and have not denied the request of his lips.(C)Selah
For you meet him with rich blessings;
you place a crown of pure gold on his head.(D)
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days forever and ever.(E)
His glory is great through your victory;
you confer majesty and splendor on him.(F)
You give him blessings forever;(G)
you cheer him with joy in your presence.(H)
For the king relies on the Lord;
through the faithful love of the Most High
he is not shaken.(I)

Your hand will capture all your enemies;
your right hand will seize those who hate you.(J)
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.(K)
10 You will wipe their progeny from the earth
and their offspring from the human race.[a](L)
11 Though they intend to harm[b] you
and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail.(M)
12 Instead, you will put them to flight
when you ready your bowstrings to shoot at them.(N)

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

Footnotes

  1. 21:10 Or the descendants of Adam
  2. 21:11 Lit they stretch out harm against

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.