Psalm 60–62

A Prayer for Deliverance^+a

60 You have rejected us, God, and defeated us;

you have been angry with us—but now turn back to us.^b

²You have made the land tremble, and you have cut it open;

now heal its wounds, because it is falling apart.

³You have made your people suffer greatly;

we stagger around as though we were drunk.

⁴You have warned those who show you reverence,

so that they might escape destruction.

⁵Save us by your might; answer our prayer,

so that the people you love may be rescued.

⁶From his sanctuary^c God has said,

“In triumph I will divide Shechem

and distribute the Valley of Sukkoth to my people.

⁷Gilead is mine, and Manasseh too;

Ephraim is my helmet

and Judah my royal sceptre.

⁸But I will use Moab as my washbasin

and I will throw my sandals on Edom,

as a sign that I own it.

Did the Philistines think they would shout in triumph over me?”

⁹Who, O God, will take me into the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

¹⁰Have you really rejected us?

Aren’t you going to march out with our armies?

¹¹Help us against the enemy;

human help is worthless.

¹²With God on our side we will win;

he will defeat our enemies.

A Prayer for Protection^d

61 Hear my cry, O God;

listen to my prayer!

²In despair and far from home

I call to you!

Take me to a safe refuge,

³for you are my protector,

my strong defence against my enemies.

⁴Let me live in your sanctuary all my life;

let me find safety under your wings.

⁵You have heard my promises, O God,

and you have given me what belongs to those who honour you.

⁶Add many years to the king’s life;

let him live on and on!

⁷May he rule for ever in your presence, O God;

protect him with your constant love and faithfulness.

⁸So I will always sing praises to you,

as I offer you daily what I have promised.

Confidence in God’s Protection^e

62 I wait patiently for God to save me;

I depend on him alone.

²He alone protects and saves me;

he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated.

³How much longer will all of you attack someone

who is no stronger than a broken-down fence?

⁴You only want to bring him down from his place of honour;

you take pleasure in lies.

You speak words of blessing,

but in your heart you curse him.

⁵I depend on God alone;

I put my hope in him.

⁶He alone protects and saves me;

he is my defender,

and I shall never be defeated.

⁷My salvation and honour depend on God;

he is my strong protector;

he is my shelter.

⁸Trust in God at all times, my people.

Tell him all your troubles, for he is our refuge.

⁹Human beings are all like a puff of breath;

great and small alike are worthless.

Put them on the scales, and they weigh nothing;

they are lighter than a mere breath.

¹⁰Don’t put your trust in violence;

don’t hope to gain anything by robbery;

even if your riches increase,

don’t depend on them.

¹¹More than once I have heard God say

that power belongs to him

^12*and that his love is constant.

You yourself, O Lord, reward everyone according to his deeds.