Add parallel Print Page Options

For the director of music. For teaching. A miktam of David when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah. That was when Joab returned and struck down 12,000 people from Edom in the Valley of Salt. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.”

60 God, you have turned away from us. You have attacked us.
    You have been angry. Now turn back to us!
You have shaken the land and torn it open.
    Fix its cracks, because it is falling apart.
You have shown your people hard times.
    You have made us drink the wine of your anger.
    Now we can’t even walk straight.

But you lead into battle those who have respect for you.
    You give them a flag to wave against the enemy’s weapons.

Save us and help us by your power.
    Do this so that those you love may be saved.
God has spoken from his temple.
    He has said, “I will win the battle.
Then I will divide up the land around Shechem.
    I will divide up the Valley of Sukkoth.
Gilead belongs to me.
    So does the land of Manasseh.
Ephraim is the strongest tribe.
    It is like a helmet for my head.
Judah is the royal tribe.
    It is like a ruler’s scepter.
Moab serves me like one who washes my feet.
    I toss my sandal on Edom to show that I own it.
    I shout to Philistia that I have won the battle.”

Who will bring me to the city that has high walls around it?
    Who will lead me to the land of Edom?
10 God, isn’t it you, even though you have now turned away from us?
    Isn’t it you, even though you don’t lead our armies into battle anymore?
11 Help us against our enemies.
    The help people give doesn’t amount to anything.
12 With your help we will win the battle.
    You will walk all over our enemies.

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)

You have rejected us,(C) God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry(D)—now restore us!(E)
You have shaken the land(F) and torn it open;
    mend its fractures,(G) for it is quaking.
You have shown your people desperate times;(H)
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.(I)
But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner(J)
    to be unfurled against the bow.[e]

Save us and help us with your right hand,(K)
    that those you love(L) may be delivered.
God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(M)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(N)
Gilead(O) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim(P) is my helmet,
    Judah(Q) is my scepter.(R)
Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.(S)

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

  1. Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
  2. Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
  4. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
  5. Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.