Psalm 59:1–9

Title For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1 You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;

you have been angry—now restore us!

2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;

mend its fractures, for it is quaking.

3 You have shown your people desperate times;

you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner

to be unfurled against the bow.

5 Save us and help us with your right hand,

that those you love may be delivered.

6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:

“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem

and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.

7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet,

Judah is my scepter.

Title To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;

you have been angry; oh, restore us.

2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;

repair its breaches, for it totters.

3 You have made your people see hard things;

you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,

that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah

5 That your beloved ones may be delivered,

give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

6 God has spoken in his holiness:

“With exultation I will divide up Shechem

and portion out the Vale of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet;

Judah is my scepter.

Title To the chief Musician upon Shushan-eduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.

1 O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us,

Thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it:

Heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things:

Thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee,

That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

5 That thy beloved may be delivered;

Save with thy right hand, and hear me.

6 God hath spoken in his holiness;

I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem,

And mete out the valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim also is the strength of mine head;

Judah is my lawgiver;

Title For the choir director: A psalm of David useful for teaching, regarding the time David fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and killed 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. To be sung to the tune “Lily of the Testimony.”

1 You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses.

You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor.

2 You have shaken our land and split it open.

Seal the cracks, for the land trembles.

3 You have been very hard on us,

making us drink wine that sent us reeling.

4 But you have raised a banner for those who fear you—

a rallying point in the face of attack.

Interlude

5 Now rescue your beloved people.

Answer and save us by your power.

6 God has promised this by his holiness:

“I will divide up Shechem with joy.

I will measure out the valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine,

and Manasseh, too.

Ephraim, my helmet, will produce my warriors,

and Judah, my scepter, will produce my kings.

Title To the Chief Musician. Set to “Lily of the Testimony.” A Michtam of David. For Teaching. When He Fought Against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab Returned and Killed Twelve Thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1 O God, You have cast us off;

You have broken us down;

You have been displeased;

Oh, restore us again!

2 You have made the earth tremble;

You have broken it;

Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.

3 You have shown Your people hard things;

You have made us drink the wine of confusion.

4 You have given a banner to those who fear You,

That it may be displayed because of the truth.

Selah

5 That Your beloved may be delivered,

Save with Your right hand, and hear me.

6 God has spoken in His holiness:

“I will rejoice;

I will divide Shechem

And measure out the Valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;

Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;

Judah is My lawgiver.

Title For the director of music. To the tune of “Lily of the Agreement.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When David fought the Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia and Zobah, and when Joab returned and defeated twelve thousand Edomites at the Valley of Salt.

1 God, you have rejected us and scattered us.

You have been angry, but please come back to us.

2 You made the earth shake and crack.

Heal its breaks because it is shaking.

3 You have given your people trouble.

You made us unable to walk straight, like people drunk with wine.

4 You have raised a banner to gather those who fear you.

Now they can stand up against the enemy.

Selah

5 Answer us and save us by your power

so the people you love will be rescued.

6 God has said from his Temple,

“When I win, I will divide Shechem

and measure off the Valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead and Manasseh are mine.

Ephraim is like my helmet.

Judah holds my royal scepter.

Title For the Chief Musician; set to Shushan Eduth. Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand.

1 O God thou hast cast us off, thou hast broken us down;

Thou hast been angry; oh restore us again.

2 Thou hast made the land to tremble; thou hast rent it:

Heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

3 Thou hast showed thy people hard things:

Thou hast made us to drink the wine of staggering.

4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee,

That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah

5 That thy beloved may be delivered,

Save with thy right hand, and answer us.

6 God hath spoken in his holiness:

I will exult;

I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim also is the defence of my head;

Judah is my sceptre.

Title To the chief Musician. On Shushan. Testimony. Michtam of David; to teach: when he strove with the Syrians of Mesopotamia, and the Syrians of Zobah, and Joab returned, and smote the Edomites in the valley of salt, twelve thousand.

1 O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased: restore us again. 2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble, thou hast rent it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh. 3 Thou hast shewn thy people hard things; thou hast made us to drink the wine of bewilderment. 4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth, (Selah,) 5 That thy beloved ones may be delivered. Save with thy right hand, and answer me.

6 God hath spoken in his holiness: I will exult, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine, and Ephraim is the strength of my head; Judah is my law-giver;

Title For the choir director; according to shushan eduth;a miktam by David; for teaching. When David fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and ⸤when⸥ Joab came back and killed 12,000 men from Edom in the Dead Sea region. 

1 O God, you have rejected us. 

You have broken down our defenses. 

You have been angry. 

Restore us! 

2 You made the land quake. 

You split it wide open. 

Heal the cracks in it 

because it is falling apart. 

3 You have made your people experience hardships. 

You have given us wine that makes us stagger. 

4 Yet, you have raised a flag for those who fear you 

so that they can rally to it 

when attacked by bows ⸤and arrows⸥. 

Selah 

5 Save ⸤us⸥ with your powerful hand, and answer us 

so that those who are dear to you may be rescued.

6 God has promised the following through his holiness: 

“I will triumph! 

I will divide Shechem. 

I will measure the valley of Succoth. 

7 Gilead is mine. 

Manasseh is mine. 

Ephraim is the helmet on my head. 

Judah is my scepter. 

Title For the choir director: according to “The Lily of Testimony.” A Davidic Miktam for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, killing 12,000.

1 God, You have rejected us;

You have broken out against us;

You have been angry. Restore us!

2 You have shaken the land and split it open.

Heal its fissures, for it shudders.

3 You have made Your people suffer hardship;

You have given us wine to drink

that made us stagger.

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

so that they can flee before the archers. Selah

5 Save with Your right hand, and answer me,

so that those You love may be rescued.

6 God has spoken in His sanctuary:

“I will triumph! I will divide up Shechem.

I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine,

and Ephraim is My helmet;

Judah is My scepter.

Title To the leader: according to the Lily of the Covenant. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;

you have been angry; now restore us!

2 You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;

repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.

3 You have made your people suffer hard things;

you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.

4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,

to rally to it out of bowshot.   Selah

5 Give victory with your right hand and answer us,

so that those whom you love may be rescued.

6 God has promised in his sanctuary,

“With exultation I will divide up Shechem

and portion out the Vale of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet;

Judah is my scepter.

Title For the music director, according to Shushan Eduth.

A miktam of David. To teach.

When he fought Mesopotamia and Aram Zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, twelve thousand persons.

1 O God, you have rejected us. You have broken us.

You have been angry. Restore us!

2 You have made the land quake. You have split it open.

Heal its fissures, because it totters.

3 You have shown your people hard things;

You have given us wine that staggers.

4 You have rallied those who fear you round a banner

out of bowshot, Selah

5 so that your beloved ones may be rescued.

Save by your right hand and answer us.

6 God has spoken in his holiness,

“I will rejoice;

I will divide up Shechem,

and portion out the valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine,

and Ephraim is the helmet for my head;

Judah is my scepter.

Title 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.”

1 God, you have turned away from us. You have attacked us.

You have been angry. Now turn back to us!

2 You have shaken the land and torn it open.

Fix its cracks, because it is falling apart.

3 You have shown your people hard times.

You have made us drink the wine of your anger.

Now we can’t even walk straight.

4 But you lead into battle those who have respect for you.

You give them a flag to wave against the enemy’s weapons. Selah

5 Save us. Help us with your powerful right hand,

so that those you love may be saved.

6 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 Succoth.

7 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 staff.

Title For the choir director; according to Mikhtam of David, to teach; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

1 O God, You have rejected us. You have broken us;

You have been angry; O, restore us.

2 You have made the land quake, You have split it open;

Heal its breaches, for it totters.

3 You have made Your people experience hardship;

You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger.

4 You have given a banner to those who fear You,

That it may be displayed because of the truth.

Selah.

5 That Your beloved may be delivered,

Save with Your right hand, and answer us!

6 God has spoken in His holiness:

“I will exult, I will portion out Shechem and measure out the valley of Succoth.

7 “Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;

Ephraim also is the helmet of My head;

Judah is My scepter.