Psalm 20–21

Psalm 20

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.

May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.

²May he send you help from his sanctuary

and strengthen you from Jerusalem.

³May he remember all your gifts

and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

Interlude

⁴May he grant your heart’s desires

and make all your plans succeed.

⁵May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory

and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.

May the Lord answer all your prayers.

⁶Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.

He will answer him from his holy heaven

and rescue him by his great power.

⁷Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,

but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.

⁸Those nations will fall down and collapse,

but we will rise up and stand firm.

⁹Give victory to our king, O Lord!

Answer our cry for help.

Psalm 21

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord!

He shouts with joy because you give him victory.

²For you have given him his heart’s desire;

you have withheld nothing he requested.

Interlude

³You welcomed him back with success and prosperity.

You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.

⁴He asked you to preserve his life,

and you granted his request.

The days of his life stretch on forever.

⁵Your victory brings him great honor,

and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.

⁶You have endowed him with eternal blessings

and given him the joy of your presence.

⁷For the king trusts in the Lord.

The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

⁸You will capture all your enemies.

Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.

⁹You will throw them in a flaming furnace

when you appear.

The Lord will consume them in his anger;

fire will devour them.

¹⁰You will wipe their children from the face of the earth;

they will never have descendants.

¹¹Although they plot against you,

their evil schemes will never succeed.

¹²For they will turn and run

when they see your arrows aimed at them.

¹³Rise up, O Lord, in all your power.

With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.