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Psalm 21

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

The king [David] shall joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah [pause, and think of that]!

For You send blessings of good things to meet him; You set a crown of pure gold on his head.

He asked life of You, and You gave it to him—long life forever and evermore.

His glory is great because of Your aid; splendor and majesty You bestow upon him.

For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence.(A)

For the king trusts, relies on, and is confident in the Lord, and through the mercy and steadfast love of the Most High he will never be moved.

Your hand shall find all Your enemies; Your right hand shall find all those who hate You.

You will make them as if in a blazing oven in the time of Your anger; the Lord will swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire will utterly consume them.

10 Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, and their sons from among the children of men.

11 For they planned evil against You; they conceived a mischievous plot which they are not able to perform.

12 For You will make them turn their backs; You will aim Your bow [of divine justice] at their faces.

13 Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power.

Psalm 21[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.(A)
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!(B)

You have granted him his heart’s desire(C)
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.[b]
You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold(D) on his head.(E)
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.(F)
Through the victories(G) you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(H)
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy(I) of your presence.(J)
For the king trusts in the Lord;(K)
    through the unfailing love(L) of the Most High(M)
    he will not be shaken.(N)

Your hand will lay hold(O) on all your enemies;
    your right hand will seize your foes.
When you appear for battle,
    you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
    and his fire will consume them.(P)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    their posterity from mankind.(Q)
11 Though they plot evil(R) against you
    and devise wicked schemes,(S) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(T)
    when you aim at them with drawn bow.

13 Be exalted(U) in your strength, Lord;(V)
    we will sing and praise your might.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
  2. Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.