Psalm 20–21

Psalm 20

DELIVERANCE IN BATTLE

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

¹May the Lord answer you in a day of trouble;^ad

may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.^ae

²May he send you help from the sanctuary

and sustain you from Zion.^af

³May he remember all your offerings

and accept your burnt offering.^ag

Selah

⁴May he give you what your heart desires^ah

and fulfill your whole purpose.^ai

⁵Let us shout for joy at your victory^aj

and lift the banner in the name of our God.^ak

May the Lord fulfill all your requests.^al

⁶Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed;^a

he will answer him from his holy heaven

with mighty victories from his right hand.^b

⁷Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses,

but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God.^c

⁸They collapse and fall,

but we rise and stand firm.^d

⁹Lord, give victory to the king!^e

May he^A answer us on the day that we call.

Psalm 21

THE KING’S VICTORY

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

¹Lord, the king finds joy in your strength.

How greatly he rejoices in your victory!^f

²You have given him his heart’s desire^g

and have not denied the request of his lips.^h

Selah

³For you meet him with rich blessings;

you place a crown of pure gold on his head.ⁱ

⁴He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—

length of days forever and ever.^j

⁵His glory is great through your victory;

you confer majesty and splendor on him.^k

⁶You give him blessings forever;^l

you cheer him with joy in your presence.^m

⁷For the king relies on the Lord;

through the faithful love of the Most High

he is not shaken.ⁿ

⁸Your hand will capture all your enemies;

your right hand will seize those who hate you.^o

⁹You will make them burn

like a fiery furnace when you appear;

the Lord will engulf them in his wrath,

and fire will devour them.^p

¹⁰You will wipe their progeny from the earth

and their offspring from the human race.^Bq

¹¹Though they intend to harm^C you

and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail.^r

¹²Instead, you will put them to flight

when you ready your bowstrings to shoot at them.^s

¹³Be exalted, Lord, in your strength;

we will sing and praise your might.^t