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UHB 1 לַ֭⁠מְנַצֵּחַ עַל־שׁוּשַׁ֣ן עֵד֑וּת מִכְתָּ֖ם לְ⁠דָוִ֣ד לְ⁠לַמֵּֽד׃ 2 בְּ⁠הַצּוֹת֨⁠וֹ ׀ אֶ֥ת אֲרַ֣ם נַהֲרַיִם֮ וְ⁠אֶת־אֲרַ֪ם צ֫וֹבָ֥ה וַ⁠יָּ֤שָׁב יוֹאָ֗ב וַ⁠יַּ֣ךְ אֶת־אֱד֣וֹם בְּ⁠גֵיא־מֶ֑לַח שְׁנֵ֖ים עָשָׂ֣ר אָֽלֶף׃ ‡

ULT For the chief musician; set to Shushan Eduth. A michtam of David, for teaching. When he fought with Aram Naharaim and with Aram Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

WEBBE For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A teaching poem by David, when he fought with Aram Naharaim and with Aram Zobah, and Joab returned, and killed twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style; a prayer of David written to instruct others. It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram-Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

FBV For the music director. According to “Lily of the Testimony.” A psalm (miktam) of David, useful for teaching, about the time he fought against Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and then Joab returned and killed 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

BBE To the chief music-maker; put to Shushan-eduth. Michtam. Of David. For teaching. When he was fighting against Aram-naharaim and Aramzobah, when Joab came back, and put twelve thousand of the Edomites to death, in the Valley of Salt.

Moff From the Choirmaster’s collection. To the tune of “Lily of the Law.” A golden ode for recitation, sung by David during the campaign against Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, when Joab wheeled round and defeated twelve thousand Edomites in the wady of Salt.

ASV 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.

Drby 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.

RV 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.
(For the Chief Musician; set to Susa 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.)

KJB-1769 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.
(To the chief Musician upon Susa-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.)

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]To the chiefe Musician vpon Shushan-Eduth Michtam of Dauid, to teach. When hee stroue with Aram Naharaim, and with Aram Zobah, when Ioab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt, twelue thousand.
(¶ To the chief Musician upon Susa-Eduth Michtam of David, to teach. When he strove with Aram Naharaim, and with Aram Zobah, when Yoab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt, twelve thousand.)

60:1 Hebr. broken.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Psalm 60 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Psalm 60 is a psalm of supplication or lament. It includes all the basic elements of that type of psalm except a vow of praise. (Some elements are repeated.) See the discussion of the types of psalms in the introduction to the book of Psalms. 1. Cry for help (1) 2. Description of troubles (2–3) 3. Statement of trust (4–5a) 4. Petition (5b) 5. Statement of trust (6–8) 6. Petition (9–11) 7. Statement of trust (12)The superscription to this psalm identifies it as a “miktam.” See the discussion of that term in the introduction to Psalms.As its superscription indicates, the background to this psalm consists of two episodes related in [2 Samuel 8:3–8](../2sa/08/03.md) and [2 Samuel 8:13–14](../2sa/08/13.md) in which David was leading the Israelite army to fight against Aramean armies northeast of Israel and his general Joab had to leave and fight against the Edomite army to the south of Israel. It may be helpful to read those episodes before translating this psalm.

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

לַ֭⁠מְנַצֵּחַ

(la⁠mənaʦʦēaḩ)

See how you translated the term “chief musician” in the superscription to Psalm 4. Alternate translation: [For the leader of worship music] or [For the music director]

Note 2 topic: translate-names

עֵד֑וּת

(ˊēdūt)

The superscription to this psalm describes it as a testimony. This most likely means that the psalm is presenting the sufferings and defeats of the Israelites to Yahweh as a plea for him to help them on the basis that they are his covenant people. Alternate translation: [An appeal for help]

Note 3 topic: translate-names

מִכְתָּ֖ם

(miktām)

The superscription to this psalm identifies it as a miktam. Since the meaning of this word is not certain, you may wish to represent it in its Hebrew form and spell it the way it sounds in your language. See the discussion of that term in the Introduction to Psalms.

Note 4 topic: translate-names

אֲרַ֣ם נַהֲרַיִם֮

(ʼₐram nahₐrayim)

The words Aram Naharaim are the name of a place.

Note 5 topic: translate-names

אֲרַ֪ם צ֫וֹבָ֥ה

(ʼₐram ʦōⱱāh)

The words Aram Zobah are the name of a place.

Note 6 topic: translate-names

בְּ⁠גֵיא־מֶ֑לַח

(bə⁠gēyʼ-melaḩ)

The phrase Valley of Salt is the name of a place.

Note 7 topic: translate-numbers

שְׁנֵ֖ים עָשָׂ֣ר אָֽלֶף

(shənēym ˊāsār ʼālef)

The number 12,000 should be translated according to the conventions of your own language and culture. Alternate translation: [twelve thousand]

Note 8 topic: writing-background

בְּ⁠הַצּוֹת֨⁠וֹ ׀ אֶ֥ת אֲרַ֣ם נַהֲרַיִם֮

(bə⁠haʦʦōt⁠ō ʼet ʼₐram nahₐrayim)

Here the psalmist is providing background information about the historical circumstances in which David wrote this psalm. In your translation, introduce this information in a way that would be natural in your own language and culture.

Parallel PSA 60:0

Psalm 60 Introduction

Structure and Formatting