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 leader. On shushan eduth. A michtam of David (for teaching), when he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and defeated twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. O God, you have spurned and broken us, routing us in your wrath – restore us!

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 shaken the land and cleft it; heal its tottering breaches.

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 made your people drink hardship, and given us wine of reeling.

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 those who fear you a banner, a rallying-place from the bow, (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.”

for the rescue of your beloved. Save by 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 did solemnly swear: ‘As victor will I divide Shechem, and mete 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];

Mine is Gilead, mine is Manasseh, Ephraim is the defence of my head, Judah my sceptre of rule,

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 the pot that I wash in, Edom – I cast my shoe over it, I shout o’er Philistia in triumph.’

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]

O to be brought to the fortified city! O to be led into 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].

Have you not spurned us, O God? You do not march forth with our armies.

11 [We need you to] help us when we fight against our enemies, because the help that humans can give us is worthless.

Grant us help from the foe, for human help is worthless.

12 But with you [helping us], we shall win; you will enable us to defeat our enemies.

With God we shall yet do bravely: he himself will tread down our foes.