From Defeat to Praise | Day 11: Psalms 60–65 Audio Bible for Renewal & Joy

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A teaching poem by David, when he fought with Aram Naharaim and with Aram Zobah, and Joab returned, and killed twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again.

You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes.

You have shown your people hard things. You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger.

You have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

So that your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us.

God has spoken from his sanctuary: “I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter.

Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my sandal on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.”

Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom?

Haven’t you, God, rejected us? You don’t go out with our armies, God.

Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain.

Through God we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.

For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David. Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.

From the end of the earth, I will call to you when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy.

I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah.

For you, God, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

You will prolong the king’s life. His years will be for generations.

He shall be enthroned in God’s presence forever. Appoint your loving kindness and truth, that they may preserve him.

So I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may fulfill my vows daily.

For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.

He alone is my rock, my salvation, and my fortress. I will never be greatly shaken.

How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor is with God. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.

Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.

God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.

Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.

A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.

So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory.

Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.

So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,

when I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches.

For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.

My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.

But those who seek my soul to destroy it shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

They shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be jackal food.

But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil;

who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,

to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.

They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?”

They plot injustice, saying, “We have made a perfect plan!” Surely man’s mind and heart are cunning.

But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.

Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads.

All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done.

The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song. Praise waits for you, God, in Zion. Vows shall be performed to you.

You who hear prayer, all men will come to you.

Sins overwhelmed me, but you atoned for our transgressions.

Blessed is the one whom you choose and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.

By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us, God of our salvation. You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth, of those who are far away on the sea.

By your power, you form the mountains, having armed yourself with strength.

You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.

They also who dwell in faraway places are afraid at your wonders. You call the morning’s dawn and the evening with songs of joy.

You visit the earth, and water it. You greatly enrich it. The river of God is full of water. You provide them grain, for so you have ordained it.

You drench its furrows. You level its ridges. You soften it with showers. You bless it with a crop.

You crown the year with your bounty. Your carts overflow with abundance.

The wilderness grasslands overflow. The hills are clothed with gladness.

The pastures are covered with flocks. The valleys also are clothed with grain. They shout for joy! They also sing.