Psalm 20–21

A Prayer for Victory^e

20 May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble!

May the God of Jacob protect you!

²May he send you help from his Temple

and give you aid from Mount Zion.

³May he accept all your offerings

and be pleased with all your sacrifices.

⁴May he give you what you desire

and make all your plans succeed.

⁵Then we will shout for joy over your victory

and celebrate your triumph by praising our God.

May the Lord answer all your requests.

⁶Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his chosen king;

he answers him from his holy heaven

and by his power gives him great victories.

⁷Some trust in their war chariots

and others in their horses,

but we trust in the power of the Lord our God.

⁸Such people will stumble and fall,

but we will rise and stand firm.

⁹Give victory to the king, O Lord;

answer^f us when we call.

Praise for Victory^g

21 The king is glad, O Lord, because you gave him strength;

he rejoices because you made him victorious.

²You have given him his heart’s desire;

you have answered his request.

³You came to him with great blessings

and set a crown of gold on his head.

⁴He asked for life, and you gave it,

a long and lasting life.

⁵His glory is great because of your help;

you have given him fame and majesty.

⁶Your blessings are with him for ever

and your presence fills him with joy.

⁷The king trusts in the Lord Almighty;

and because of the Lord’s constant love

he will always be secure.

⁸The king will capture all his enemies;

he will capture everyone who hates him.

⁹He will destroy them like a blazing fire

when he appears.

The Lord will devour them in his anger,

and fire will consume them.

¹⁰None of their descendants will survive;

the king will kill them all.

¹¹They make their plans, and plot against him,

but they will not succeed.

¹²He will shoot his arrows at them

and make them turn and run.

¹³We praise you, Lord, for your great strength!

We will sing and praise your power.