Psalms 60
1 [I prayed], “God, you have rejected us [Israelis]! Because you have been angry [with us], you have [enabled our enemies] to break through our ranks. [Please] enable us to be strong again!
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. God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again.
2 [When we were defeated, it was as though] [MET] there was a big earthquake in our land that caused the ground to split open. So now, [just as only you can] cause the cracks in the land to disappear, [help our army to be strong again], because [it is as though] our country is (falling apart/being destroyed).
You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes.
3 You have caused [us], your people, to suffer very much; [it is as though] you forced us to drink [strong] wine that caused us to stagger around [after we became drunk].
You have shown your people hard things. You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger.
4 But you have raised a battle flag for those who revere you in order that they can gather around it and not [be killed by the enemies’] arrows.
You have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. (Selah)
5 Answer our [prayers] and enable us by your power [MTY] to defeat [our enemies] in order that we, the people whom you love, will be saved.”
So that your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us.
6 [Then] God [answered my prayer and] spoke from his temple, saying, “Because I have conquered [your enemies], I will divide up [everything in] Shechem [city], and I will distribute it among my people [the land in] Succoth Valley.
God has spoken from his sanctuary: “I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.
7 The Gilead [region] is mine; the [people of the tribe of] Manasseh are mine; [the tribe of] Ephraim is [like] my helmet [MET]; and [the tribe of] Judah is [like] the (scepter/stick [that I hold which shows that I am the ruler]) [MET];
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter.
8 but the Moab [region] is [like] my washbasin [MET]; I throw my sandal in the Edom [area to show that it belongs to me]; I shout triumphantly because I have defeated [the people of] the Philistia [area].”
Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my sandal on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.”
9 [Because I want to defeat the people of] Edom, (who will lead my [army triumphantly] to their [capital] city that has strong walls around it?/I want someone to lead my [army triumphantly] to their [capital] city that has strong walls around it.)” [RHQ]
Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom?
10 So, God, we [desire/hope that] [RHQ] you have not truly abandoned us, and that you will go with us when our armies march out [to fight our enemies].
Haven’t you, God, rejected us? You don’t go out with our armies, God.
11 [We need you to] help us when we fight against our enemies, because the help that humans can give us is worthless.
Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain.
12 But with you [helping us], we shall win; you will enable us to defeat our enemies.
Through God we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.
