Psalms 60

Psalms 60

Psalm 60

1O God, you have rejected us.[#sn You have rejected us. See Pss 43:2; 44:9, 23.]

You suddenly turned on us in your anger.

Please restore us!

2You made the earth quake; you split it open.[#tn The verb פָּצַם (patsam, “split open”) occurs only here in the OT. An Arabic cognate means “crack,” and an Aramaic cognate is used in Tg. Jer 22:14 with the meaning “break open, frame.” See BDB 822 s.v. and Jastrow 1205 s.v. פְּצַם.sn You made the earth quake; you split it open. The psalmist uses the imagery of an earthquake to describe the nation’s defeat.]

Repair its breaches, for it is ready to fall.

3You have made your people experience hard times;[#tn Heb “you have caused your people to see [what is] hard.”]

you have made us drink intoxicating wine.

4You have given your loyal followers a rallying flag,[#tn Heb “those who fear you.”]

so that they might seek safety from the bow. (Selah)

5Deliver by your power and answer me,[#tn Heb “right hand.”; #tn The Qere (marginal reading) has “me,” while the Kethib (consonantal text) has “us.”]

so that the ones you love may be safe.

6God has spoken in his sanctuary:[#tn Heb “in his holy place.”]

“I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem;

the Valley of Succoth I will measure off.

7Gilead belongs to me,

as does Manasseh!

Ephraim is my helmet,

Judah my royal scepter.

8Moab is my washbasin.[#sn The metaphor of the washbasin, used to rinse one’s hands and feet, suggests that Moab, in contrast to Israel’s elevated position (vv. 6-7), would be reduced to the status of a servant.]

I will make Edom serve me.

I will shout in triumph over Philistia.”

9Who will lead me into the fortified city?

Who will bring me to Edom?

10Have you not rejected us, O God?

O God, you do not go into battle with our armies.

11Give us help against the enemy,

for any help men might offer is futile.

12By God’s power we will conquer;[#tn Heb “in God we will accomplish strength.” The statement refers here to military success (see Num 24:18; 1 Sam 14:48; Pss 108:13; 118:15-16).]

he will trample down our enemies.

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