Day 60

Psalms 60, 75

He Will Tread Down Our Foes

60 To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

1    O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;

you have been angry; oh, restore us.

2    You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;

repair its breaches, for it totters.

3    You have made your people see hard things;

you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

4    You have set up a banner for those who fear you,

that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah

5    That your beloved ones may be delivered,

give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

6    God has spoken in his holiness:

“With exultation I will divide up Shechem

and portion out the Vale of Succoth.

7    Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet;

Judah is my scepter.

8    Moab is my washbasin;

upon Edom I cast my shoe;

over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

9    Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

10    Have you not rejected us, O God?

You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.

11    Oh, grant us help against the foe,

for vain is the salvation of man!

12    With God we shall do valiantly;

it is he who will tread down our foes. [1]

God Will Judge with Equity

75 To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

1    We give thanks to you, O God;

we give thanks, for your name is near.

       We recount your wondrous deeds.

2    “At the set time that I appoint

I will judge with equity.

3    When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,

it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah

4    I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’

and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;

5    do not lift up your horn on high,

or speak with haughty neck.’ ”

6    For not from the east or from the west

and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,

7    but it is God who executes judgment,

putting down one and lifting up another.

8    For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup

with foaming wine, well mixed,

       and he pours out from it,

and all the wicked of the earth

shall drain it down to the dregs.

9    But I will declare it forever;

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10    All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,

but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. [2]

2 Samuel 10

David Defeats Ammon and Syria

10 After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. 5 When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”

6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. 10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15 But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore. [3]

1 Chronicles 19

The Ammonites Disgrace David’s Men

19 Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal kindly with Hanun the son of Nahash, for his father dealt kindly with me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites to Hanun to console him. 3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away; 5 and they departed. When David was told concerning the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”

6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. 7 They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle. 8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 9 And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

Ammonites and Syrians Defeated

10 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. 11 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites. 12 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” 14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him. 15 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17 And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to them and drew up his forces against them. And when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 7,000 chariots and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death also Shophach the commander of their army. 19 And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Syrians were not willing to save the Ammonites anymore. [4]

Psalm 20, 65-67, 69-70

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

20 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1    May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2    May he send you help from the sanctuary

and give you support from Zion!

3    May he remember all your offerings

and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4    May he grant you your heart’s desire

and fulfill all your plans!

5    May we shout for joy over your salvation,

and in the name of our God set up our banners!

       May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6    Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;

he will answer him from his holy heaven

with the saving might of his right hand.

7    Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8    They collapse and fall,

but we rise and stand upright.

9    O Lord, save the king!

May he answer us when we call. [5]

O God of Our Salvation

65 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

1    Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,

and to you shall vows be performed.

2    O you who hear prayer,

to you shall all flesh come.

3    When iniquities prevail against me,

you atone for our transgressions.

4    Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,

to dwell in your courts!

      We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,

the holiness of your temple!

5    By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,

O God of our salvation,

       the hope of all the ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas;

6    the one who by his strength established the mountains,

being girded with might;

7    who stills the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves,

the tumult of the peoples,

8    so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.

       You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

9    You visit the earth and water it;

you greatly enrich it;

       the river of God is full of water;

you provide their grain,

for so you have prepared it.

10    You water its furrows abundantly,

settling its ridges,

       softening it with showers,

and blessing its growth.

11    You crown the year with your bounty;

your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.

12    The pastures of the wilderness overflow,

the hills gird themselves with joy,

13    the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,

the valleys deck themselves with grain,

they shout and sing together for joy.

How Awesome Are Your Deeds

66 To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.

1    Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

2        sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise!

3    Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

4    All the earth worships you

and sings praises to you;

they sing praises to your name.” Selah

5    Come and see what God has done:

he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

6    He turned the sea into dry land;

they passed through the river on foot.

       There did we rejoice in him,

7        who rules by his might forever,

       whose eyes keep watch on the nations—

let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

8    Bless our God, O peoples;

let the sound of his praise be heard,

9    who has kept our soul among the living

and has not let our feet slip.

10    For you, O God, have tested us;

you have tried us as silver is tried.

11    You brought us into the net;

you laid a crushing burden on our backs;

12    you let men ride over our heads;

we went through fire and through water;

       yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

13    I will come into your house with burnt offerings;

I will perform my vows to you,

14    that which my lips uttered

and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

15    I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,

with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;

       I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

16    Come and hear, all you who fear God,

and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

17    I cried to him with my mouth,

and high praise was on my tongue.

18    If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,

the Lord would not have listened.

19    But truly God has listened;

he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20    Blessed be God,

because he has not rejected my prayer

or removed his steadfast love from me!

Make Your Face Shine upon Us

67 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

1    May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

2    that your way may be known on earth,

your saving power among all nations.

3    Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

4    Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

5    Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

6    The earth has yielded its increase;

God, our God, shall bless us.

7    God shall bless us;

let all the ends of the earth fear him! [6]

Save Me, O God

69 To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. Of David.

1    Save me, O God!

For the waters have come up to my neck.

2    I sink in deep mire,

where there is no foothold;

       I have come into deep waters,

and the flood sweeps over me.

3    I am weary with my crying out;

my throat is parched.

       My eyes grow dim

with waiting for my God.

4    More in number than the hairs of my head

are those who hate me without cause;

       mighty are those who would destroy me,

those who attack me with lies.

       What I did not steal

must I now restore?

5    O God, you know my folly;

the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

6    Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,

O Lord God of hosts;

       let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,

O God of Israel.

7    For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,

that dishonor has covered my face.

8    I have become a stranger to my brothers,

an alien to my mother’s sons.

9    For zeal for your house has consumed me,

and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

10    When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,

it became my reproach.

11    When I made sackcloth my clothing,

I became a byword to them.

12    I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,

and the drunkards make songs about me.

13    But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.

At an acceptable time, O God,

in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

14    Deliver me

from sinking in the mire;

       let me be delivered from my enemies

and from the deep waters.

15    Let not the flood sweep over me,

or the deep swallow me up,

or the pit close its mouth over me.

16    Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;

according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

17    Hide not your face from your servant,

for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.

18    Draw near to my soul, redeem me;

ransom me because of my enemies!

19    You know my reproach,

and my shame and my dishonor;

my foes are all known to you.

20    Reproaches have broken my heart,

so that I am in despair.

       I looked for pity, but there was none,

and for comforters, but I found none.

21    They gave me poison for food,

and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

22    Let their own table before them become a snare;

and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.

23    Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,

and make their loins tremble continually.

24    Pour out your indignation upon them,

and let your burning anger overtake them.

25    May their camp be a desolation;

let no one dwell in their tents.

26    For they persecute him whom you have struck down,

and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.

27    Add to them punishment upon punishment;

may they have no acquittal from you.

28    Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;

let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

29    But I am afflicted and in pain;

let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

30    I will praise the name of God with a song;

I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31    This will please the Lord more than an ox

or a bull with horns and hoofs.

32    When the humble see it they will be glad;

you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

33    For the Lord hears the needy

and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

34    Let heaven and earth praise him,

the seas and everything that moves in them.

35    For God will save Zion

and build up the cities of Judah,

       and people shall dwell there and possess it;

36        the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,

and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

O Lord, Do Not Delay

70 To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering.

1    Make haste, O God, to deliver me!

O Lord, make haste to help me!

2    Let them be put to shame and confusion

who seek my life!

       Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor

who delight in my hurt!

3    Let them turn back because of their shame

who say, “Aha, Aha!”

4    May all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you!

       May those who love your salvation

say evermore, “God is great!”

5    But I am poor and needy;

hasten to me, O God!

       You are my help and my deliverer;

O Lord, do not delay! [7]