Psalm 60
This is a national lament expressing distress over military defeat and a sense of God's abandonment, followed by a renewed plea for divine help. It combines a cry for restoration with confidence in God's ultimate power to grant victory. It is prayed in times of national crisis, military defeat, or when a community feels abandoned by God, seeking divine intervention and restoration of strength.
Through God we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.
1 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 You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes.
3 You have shown your people hard things. You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger.
4 You have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
5 So that your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary: “I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my sandal on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.”
9 Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom?
10 Haven’t you, God, rejected us? You don’t go out with our armies, God.
11 Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain.
12 Through God we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.
Hebrew numbering, the one used in most Bibles and searches. In Catholic liturgy (Greek numbering) this psalm may appear one number lower between 10 and 147.