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This is a song that David wrote for the music leader.

We thank God for his help[a]

21 Lord, the king is happy,
    because you help him with your great strength.
You have helped him to win against his enemies,
    so he is very happy.[b]
You have given to him all the things
    that he really wanted.
When he asked for them,
    you have not refused to give them to him.
Selah.
You came to him,
    and you blessed him with many good things:
You put a crown on his head.
    It was made from the best gold.
He asked you to keep his life safe,
    and you gave to him a long life.
His descendants will continue for ever.
People praise him,
    because you have helped him to win against his enemies.
You have caused him to rule as a great king.
You will continue to bless him for ever.
Because you are very near to him,
    he is very happy.
The king trusts in the Lord.
Because of the Most High God's faithful love,
    the king will never fail.

You will use your strong power
    to take hold of your enemies.[c]
You will catch everybody that hates you.
When you come out to fight against them,
    you will destroy them like a hot fire.
The Lord destroys them,
    because you are angry with them.
10 You will remove your enemies' children from the earth.
They will no longer have any descendants.
11 They decided to hurt you.
    They thought how they would do that.
But they could not do anything bad against you.
12 No! You shoot your arrows at them,
    so that they turn round and they run away!

13 Get up, Lord, and show your strength!
We will sing to praise you
    because you have great power.

Footnotes

  1. 21:1 In this Psalm, the king and his army thank God because he has helped them to win against their enemies.
  2. 21:1 Probably David is talking about himself as the king.
  3. 21:8 Probably ‘you’ in verses 8 to 12 means the king.

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.