Prayers, Songs, Praises: Psalm 60

Prayer in Difficult Times

For the choir director: according to “The Lily of Testimony.” A Miktam of David for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in Salt Valley, killing twelve thousand.

60:1 God, you have rejected us;

you have broken us down;
you have been angry. Restore us!

2 You have shaken the land and split it open.

Heal its fissures, for it shudders.

3 You have made your people suffer hardship;

you have given us wine to drink
that made us stagger.

4 You have given a signal flag to those who fear you,

so that they can flee before the archers.Selah

5 Save with your right hand, and answer me,

so that those you love may be rescued.

6 God has spoken in his sanctuary:

“I will celebrate!
I will divide up Shechem.
I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine,

and Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.

8 Moab is my washbasin.

I throw my sandal on Edom;
I shout in triumph over Philistia.”

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

10 God, haven’t you rejected us?

God, you do not march out with our armies.

11 Give us aid against the foe,

for human help is worthless.

12 With God we will perform valiantly;

he will trample our foes.

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Prayers, Songs, Praises: Psalm 59

God Our Stronghold

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him.

59:1 Rescue me from my enemies, my God;

protect me from those who rise up against me.

2 Rescue me from evildoers,

and save me from men of bloodshed.

3 Because look, Lord, they set an ambush for me.

Powerful men attack me,
but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine.

4 For no fault of mine,

they run and take up a position.
Awake to help me, and take notice.

5 Lord God of Armies, you are the God of Israel.

Rise up to punish all the nations;
do not show favor to any wicked traitors.Selah

6 They return at evening, snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.

7 Look, they spew from their mouths—

sharp words from their lips.

“For who,” they say, “will hear?”

8 But you laugh at them, Lord;

you ridicule all the nations.

9 I will keep watch for you, my strength,

because God is my stronghold.

10 My faithful God will come to meet me;

God will let me look down on my adversaries.

11 Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget.

By your power, make them homeless wanderers
and bring them down,
Lord, our shield.

12 For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips,

let them be caught in their pride.
They utter curses and lies.

13 Consume them in fury;

consume them until they are gone.
Then people will know throughout the earth
that God rules over Jacob.Selah

14 And they return at evening, snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.

15 They scavenge for food;

they growl if they are not satisfied.

16 But I will sing of your strength

and will joyfully proclaim

your faithful love in the morning.

For you have been a stronghold for me,

a refuge in my day of trouble.

17 To you, my strength, I sing praises,

because God is my stronghold—

my faithful God.

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