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21 To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. Jehovah, in Thy strength is the king joyful, In Thy salvation how greatly he rejoiceth.

The desire of his heart Thou gavest to him, And the request of his lips Thou hast not withheld. Selah.

For Thou puttest before him blessings of goodness, Thou settest on his head a crown of fine gold.

Life he hath asked from Thee, Thou hast given to him -- length of days, Age-during -- and for ever.

Great [is] his honour in Thy salvation, Honour and majesty Thou placest on him.

For Thou makest him blessings for ever, Thou dost cause him to rejoice with joy, By Thy countenance.

For the king is trusting in Jehovah, And in the kindness of the Most High He is not moved.

Thy hand cometh to all Thine enemies, Thy right hand doth find Thy haters.

Thou makest them as a furnace of fire, At the time of Thy presence. Jehovah in His anger doth swallow them, And fire doth devour them.

10 Their fruit from earth Thou destroyest, And their seed from the sons of men.

11 For they stretched out against Thee evil, They devised a wicked device, they prevail not,

12 For Thou makest them a butt, When Thy strings Thou preparest against their faces.

13 Be Thou exalted, O Jehovah in, Thy strength, We sing and we praise Thy might!

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.