Psalm 20–21

Psalm 20^a

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;^a

may the name of the God of Jacob^b protect you.^c

²May he send you help^d from the sanctuary^e

and grant you support^f from Zion.^g

³May he remember^h all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.^bi

⁴May he give you the desire of your heart^j

and make all your plans succeed.^k

⁵May we shout for joy^l over your victory

and lift up our banners^m in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.ⁿ

⁶Now this I know:

The Lord gives victory to his anointed.^o

He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary

with the victorious power of his right hand.^p

⁷Some trust in chariots^q and some in horses,^r

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.^s

⁸They are brought to their knees and fall,^t

but we rise up^u and stand firm.^v

⁹Lord, give victory to the king!

Answer us^w when we call!

Psalm 21^a

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.^x

How great is his joy in the victories you give!^y

²You have granted him his heart’s desire^z

and have not withheld the request of his lips.^b

³You came to greet him with rich blessings

and placed a crown of pure gold^a on his head.^b

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

length of days, for ever and ever.^c

⁵Through the victories^d you gave, his glory is great;

you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.^e

⁶Surely you have granted him unending blessings

and made him glad with the joy^f of your presence.^g

⁷For the king trusts in the Lord;^h

through the unfailing loveⁱ of the Most High^j

he will not be shaken.^k

⁸Your hand will lay hold^l on all your enemies;

your right hand will seize your foes.

⁹When you appear for battle,

you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.

The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,

and his fire will consume them.^m

¹⁰You will destroy their descendants from the earth,

their posterity from mankind.ⁿ

¹¹Though they plot evil^o against you

and devise wicked schemes,^p they cannot succeed.

¹²You will make them turn their backs^q

when you aim at them with drawn bow.

¹³Be exalted^r in your strength, Lord;^s

we will sing and praise your might.