60
Psalm 60 – A Prayer after Defeat in Battle
For the leader. On shushan eduth. A michtam of David (for teaching), when he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and defeated twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1 O God, you have spurned and broken us,
routing us in your wrath – restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and cleft it;
heal its tottering breaches.
3 You have made your people drink hardship,
and given us wine of reeling.
4 You have given those who fear you a banner,
a rallying-place from the bow,
Selah
5 for the rescue of your beloved.
Save by your right hand and answer us.
6 God did solemnly swear:
‘As victor will I divide Shechem,
and mete out the valley of Succoth.
7 Mine is Gilead, mine is Manasseh,
Ephraim is the defence of my head,
Judah my sceptre of rule,
8 Moab the pot that I wash in,
Edom – I cast my shoe over it,
I shout o’er Philistia in triumph.’
9 O to be brought to the fortified city!
O to be led into Edom!
10 Have you not spurned us, O God?
You do not march forth with our armies.
11 Grant us help from the foe,
for human help is worthless.
12 With God we shall yet do bravely:
he himself will tread down our foes.