Psalm 60

EasyEnglish Bible

This is for the music leader, and he should use special music.

David wrote this prayer to teach people. He wrote it when he fought wars in north Syria. After the battle, Joab's army killed 12,000 of Edom's people in Salt Valley.

God, please help us!^[a]

60 God, you have turned against us,
    and you have broken down our strong walls.^[b]
You are angry with us,
    but please make us strong again!
²You made the ground shake
    and you tore it open.
Now mend the holes,
    or everything will fall down.
³You have given your people a time of difficult trouble.
You have given us strong wine to drink,
    that has made us fall like drunk people.^[c]
⁴But you have lifted up a flag
    for the people who serve you.
They can meet together there,
    to be safe in the battle.
Selah.
⁵Use your power to rescue us!
    Answer our prayers!
Then the people that you love will be safe.
⁶God has spoken from his holy place!^[d]
He has promised:
‘I will show my power!
    I will make Shechem into separate pieces.
    I will measure Succoth Valley.
⁷Gilead belongs to me,
    and so does Manasseh.
Ephraim is like my helmet for war.
Judah has the authority of my royal sceptre.^[e]
⁸But Moab is the place where I wash my hands.
Edom is my servant.
    I can throw my shoes at him!
I will shout loudly,
    because I have won against the Philistines.’^[f]

⁹Who will lead me into the strong city?
    Who will take me to fight and win against Edom?^[g]
¹⁰God, have you really turned against us?
    Will you not lead our armies into battle?
¹¹Help us to fight against our enemies,
    because help from men is useless!
¹²With God's help, we will win!
    He will beat down our enemies for us.

Footnotes

60:1 See 2 Samuel 8:3-13; 10:16-18; 1 Chronicles 18:3-12; 19:6-19. David was fighting a war. He was a long way from home, near the River Euphrates. After the war, when David was returning home, Edom's army attacked Jerusalem. David sent Joab, the leader of his soldiers, to fight against the Edomites. David's army beat them and killed 12,000 of them. This happened in Salt Valley, near the Dead Sea. David wrote the psalm because he thought that God had left him and his people.
60:1 Edom's army broke down the city walls, but David decided that God had sent them to do it.
60:3 Strong wine that causes people to become drunk is often a picture of God's anger.
60:6 The holy place is God's home. Perhaps it was the temple in Jerusalem, or God's home in heaven.
60:7 The first six places were all parts of Israel. They all belong to God. He will decide what to do with them. They will have important jobs, like Ephraim as a soldier and Judah as a judge.
60:8 Moab, Edom and the Philistines were all enemies of Israel. God will use them like his servants, to do what he wants.
60:9 David is the speaker again from verse 9 to the end.

Psalm 60

New International Version

Psalm 60^[a]^(A)

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam^[b] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim^[c] and Aram Zobah,^[d] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.^(B)

¹You have rejected us,^(C) God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry^(D)—now restore us!^(E)
²You have shaken the land^(F) and torn it open;
    mend its fractures,^(G) for it is quaking.
³You have shown your people desperate times;^(H)
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.^(I)
⁴But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner^(J)
    to be unfurled against the bow.^[e]

⁵Save us and help us with your right hand,^(K)
    that those you love^(L) may be delivered.
⁶God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem^(M)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.^(N)
⁷Gilead^(O) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim^(P) is my helmet,
    Judah^(Q) is my scepter.^(R)
⁸Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.^(S)”

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?^(T)
¹¹Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.^(U)
¹²With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.^(V)

Footnotes

Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

EasyEnglish Bible (EASY)

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 60

EasyEnglish Bible

This is for the music leader, and he should use special music.

David wrote this prayer to teach people. He wrote it when he fought wars in north Syria. After the battle, Joab's army killed 12,000 of Edom's people in Salt Valley.

God, please help us!^[a]

Footnotes

Psalm 60

New International Version

Psalm 60^[a]^(A)

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam^[b] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim^[c] and Aram Zobah,^[d] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.^(B)

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 60 EasyEnglish Bible

This is for the music leader, and he should use special music.

David wrote this prayer to teach people. He wrote it when he fought wars in north Syria. After the battle, Joab's army killed 12,000 of Edom's people in Salt Valley.

God, please help us![a]

Footnotes

Psalm 60 New International Version

Psalm 60[a](A)

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam[b] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim[c] and Aram Zobah,[d] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.(B)

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 60

EasyEnglish Bible

God, please help us!^[a]

Psalm 60

New International Version

Psalm 60^[a]^(A)

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam^[b] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim^[c] and Aram Zobah,^[d] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.^(B)