Psalm 60–63

Psalm 60

PRAYER IN DIFFICULT TIMES

For the choir director: according to “The Lily of Testimony.”j A Miktam of David for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in Salt Valley, killing twelve thousand.k

1 God, you have rejected us;

you have broken us down;

you have been angry. Restore us!C,l

2 You have shaken the land and split it open.

Heal its fissures, for it shudders.m

3 You have made your people suffer hardship;

you have given us wine to drink

that made us stagger.n

4 You have given a signal flag to those who fear you,

so that they can flee before the archers.D,o

Selah

5 Save with your right hand, and answer me,

so that those you love may be rescued.p

6 God has spoken in his sanctuary:E

“I will celebrate!

I will divide up Shechem.q

I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.r

7 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine,

and Ephraim is my helmet;s

Judah is my scepter.t

8 Moab is my washbasin.u

I throw my sandal on Edom;v

I shout in triumph over Philistia.”w

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?x

10 God, haven’t you rejected us?

God, you do not march out with our armies.y

11 Give us aid against the foe,

for human help is worthless.z

12 With God we will perform valiantly;aa

he will trample our foes.ab

Psalm 61

SECURITY IN GOD

For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Of David.

1 God, hear my cry;

pay attention to my prayer.ac

2 I call to you from the ends of the earth

when my heart is without strength.ad

Lead me to a rock that is high above me,ae

3 for you have been a refuge for me,

a strong toweraf in the face of the enemy.

4 I will dwell in your tent forever

and take refuge under the shelter of your wings.ag

Selah

5 God, you have heard my vows;ah

you have given a heritage

to those who fear your name.ai

6 Add days to the king’s life;

may his years span many generations.aj

7 May he sit enthroned before God forever.ak

Appoint faithful love and truth to guard him.al

8 Then I will continually sing of your name,am

fulfilling my vows day by day.an

Psalm 62

TRUST IN GOD ALONE

For the choir director: according to Jeduthun.a A psalm of David.

1 I am at rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from him.b

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,c

my stronghold; I will never be shaken.d

3 How long will you threaten a man?

Will all of you attackA

as if he were a leaning wall

or a tottering fence?e

4 They only plan to bring him down

from his high position.

They take pleasure in lying;

they bless with their mouths,

but they curse inwardly.f

Selah

5 Rest in God alone, my soul,

for my hope comes from him.g

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,h

my stronghold; I will not be shaken.i

7 My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock.

My refuge is in God.j

8 Trust in him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts before him.

God is our refuge.k

Selah

9 Common people are only a vapor;

important people, an illusion.

Together on a scale,

they weigh less thanB a vapor.l

10 Place no trust in oppression

or false hope in robbery.

If wealth increases,

don’t set your heart on it.m

11 God has spoken once;

I have heard this twice:

strength belongs to God,n

12 and faithful love belongs to you, Lord.

For you repay each according to his works.o

Psalm 63

PRAISE GOD WHO SATISFIES

A psalm of David. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.p

1 God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you.

I thirst for you;

my body faints for you

in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.q

2 So I gaze on you in the sanctuary

to see your strength and your glory.r

3 My lips will glorify you

because your faithful love is better than life.s

4 So I will bless you as long as I live;

at your name, I will lift up my hands.t

5 You satisfy me as with rich food;A,u

my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.v

6 When I think of you as I lie on my bed,

I meditate on you during the night watchesw

7 because you are my helper;x

I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.y

8 I follow close to you;

your right hand holds on to me.z

9 But those who intend to destroy my life

will go into the depths of the earth.aa

10 They will be given over to the power of the sword;ab

they will become a meal for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God;ac

all who swear by him will boast,

for the mouths of liars will be shut.ad