< Psalms 21 >
1 The king shall joy in your strength, O LORD; and in your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
For the music director. A psalm of David. The king celebrates your strength, Lord; he is so happy you made him victorious!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. (Selah)
You gave him everything he wanted; you didn't hold anything back he asked for.
3 For you prevent him with the blessings of goodness: you set a crown of pure gold on his head.
You welcomed him on his return with special blessings; you placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked life of you, and you gave it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
He asked you to give him a good life, and you gave him a long life, forever and ever.
5 His glory is great in your salvation: honor and majesty have you laid on him.
Your victories brought him great glory; you granted him splendor and majesty.
6 For you have made him most blessed for ever: you have made him exceeding glad with your countenance.
You give him blessings forever. He is full of joy because you are with him.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
For the king trusts in the Lord; he stands firm because of the trustworthy love of the Most High.
8 Your hand shall find out all your enemies: your right hand shall find out those that hate you.
You, the king, will find and capture all your enemies; you will seize everyone who hates you.
9 You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
When you appear on the scene you will burn them up like in a furnace; the Lord in his anger will destroy them, burning them up with fire.
10 Their fruit shall you destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
You will wipe out their children from the earth, their descendants from humankind.
11 For they intended evil against you: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
Though they plot evil against you, their malicious schemes will not succeed.
12 Therefore shall you make them turn their back, when you shall make ready your arrows on your strings against the face of them.
They will turn and run away when they see your arrows fired at them.
13 Be you exalted, LORD, in your own strength: so will we sing and praise your power.
Rise up, Lord, for you are strong! We will sing and praise your power!