Psalm chapter 60
English Standard Version
1O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. 2You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. 3 You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. 4You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah 5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! 6God has spoken in his holiness: "With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter. 8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph." 9Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 11Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 12With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.
New International Version
1For the director of music. To the tune of "The Lily of the Covenant." A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us; you have been angry—now restore us! 2You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking. 3You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. 5Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. 6God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth. 7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.
8Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph." 9Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us and no longer go out with our armies? 11Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. 12With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
New American Standard Bible
1God, You have rejected us. You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us! 2You have made the land quake, You have split it open; Heal its cracks, for it sways. 3You have made Your people experience hardship; You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger. 4You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah 5That Your beloved may be rescued, Save us with Your right hand, and answer us! 6God has spoken in His holiness: 'I will triumph, I will divide up Shechem, and measure out the Valley of Succoth. 7Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is the helmet of My head; Judah is My scepter. 8Moab is My washbowl; I will throw My sandal over Edom; Shout loud, Philistia, because of Me!' 9Who will bring me into the besieged city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10Have You Yourself not rejected us, God? And will You not go out with our armies, God? 11Oh give us help against the enemy, For rescue by man is worthless. 12 Through God we will do valiantly, And it is He who will trample down our enemies.
Christian Standard Bible
1For 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. God, you have rejected us; you have broken us down; you have been angry. Restore us! 2You have shaken the land and split it open. Heal its fissures, for it shudders. 3You have made your people suffer hardship; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.
4You have given a signal flag to those who fear you, so that they can flee before the archers. Selah
5Save with your right hand, and answer me, so that those you love may be rescued. 6God has spoken in his sanctuary: "I will celebrate! I will divide up Shechem. I will apportion the Valley of Succoth. 7Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, and Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.
8Moab is my washbasin. I throw my sandal on Edom; I shout in triumph over Philistia." 9Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10God, haven’t you rejected us? God, you do not march out with our armies. 11Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless. 12With God we will perform valiantly; he will trample our foes.
New Living Translation
1 You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses. You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor. 2You have shaken our land and split it open. Seal the cracks, for the land trembles. 3You have been very hard on us, making us drink wine that sent us reeling.
5Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power. 6God has promised this by his holiness : 'I will divide up Shechem with joy. I will measure out the valley of Succoth. 7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh, too. Ephraim, my helmet, will produce my warriors, and Judah, my scepter, will produce my kings. 8But Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant, and I will wipe my feet on Edom and shout in triumph over Philistia.'
9Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will bring me victory over Edom? 10Have you rejected us, O God? Will you no longer march with our armies? 11Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless. 12With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.
King James Version
New King James Version
1{To the Chief Musician. Set to “Lily of the Testimony.” A Michtam of David. For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.} O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, restore us again! 2You have made the earth tremble; You have broken it; Heal its breaches, for it is shaking. 3 You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion.
5 That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and hear me. 6God has spoken in His holiness: “I will rejoice; I will divide Shechem And measure out the Valley of Succoth. 7Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is the helmet for My head; Judah is My lawgiver. 8 Moab is My washpot; Over Edom I will cast My shoe; Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me.” 9Who will bring me to the strong city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off? And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies? 11Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. 12Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
What does Psalm chapter 60 mean?
During his military campaigns, David fought the Arameans and Ammonites to the north of Israel. These wars are recorded, in part, in 2 Samuel chapter 8 and 1 Chronicles chapter 18. At one point during the northern campaign, it seems that Edom made a surprise attack from the south. This was a dire threat, as David's response in this psalm proves. The psalm is labelled "for instruction" likely because of the outcome. David prays for rescue, while expressing faithful confidence in the Lord's intent to save Israel. Abishai, sent by David and aided by Joab, was able to counter the Edomites and attain a great victory (1 Chronicles 11:6; 18:12).The Hebrew phrase susan' 'ēdut' literally means "lily of the testimony." Many Bible versions translate this phrase into English, as they do titles for other melodies associated with various psalms (Psalm 22:1; 56:1). Other scholars transliterate the phrase into variations of "Shushan Eduth." A "miktam" was most likely a musical style (Psalm 16:1; 56:1; 57:1; 58:1; 59:1). The choirmaster would have led corporate worship.
The psalm begins with David expressing grief and horror. Despite this, his words speak only in terms of God's actions. Even in this circumstance, David's instinct is to see the Lord as sovereign over all things. The land is torn and shattered by invaders. The situation is grim, with the spread-out army in a state of shock and confusion almost like being drunk. Yet David knows that the Lord is in control. Even in this situation, He is leading His people (Psalm 60:1–5).
Next, the Lord responds by describing territories within Israel and those in enemy lands. He speaks reassuringly of His chosen people. Gilead and Manasseh, stretching over both sides of the Jordan River, are in His control. The powerful tribe of Ephraim acts as a defensive "helmet" for the nation. The tribe of Judah is the source of legitimate kings. In contrast, God speaks of Moab as a mere tool. Edom—the invading nation—is slated for defeat, as are the Philistines (Psalm 60:6–8).
When Mary was told she would give birth to Jesus, she reacted with wonder at "how," not "if," God would make this occur (Luke 1:34). In a similar way, David saw no evidence that God was—at that moment—aiding Israel. He knows victory is only possible with God's power; yet when this psalm was written he hadn't yet seen the means the Lord would use. Yet David speaks with confidence, repeating his prayer and expressing trust that with God's help, the nation will succeed (Psalm 60:9–12).
