Psalms 21
What Happens in This Chapter
This is a song about a king who trusts God. The first part thanks God for giving the king what he asked for and for keeping him safe. The second part says God will defeat the enemies who plan to hurt him. The song ends by asking God to be lifted high, with people singing about his strength.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
1LORD, the king is glad because you are strong. He is very happy that you saved him.
2Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
2You gave the king what his heart wanted. You did not say no when he asked. Selah.
"Selah" is a word left in the old song. Nobody is sure what it meant. It may have marked a pause in the music.
3For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
3You came to meet him with rich, good gifts. You put a crown of pure gold on his head.
The old English says "preventest." Back then "prevent" meant "to go before" or "to meet." It did not mean "to stop."
4He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
4He asked you to let him live. You gave him life, long days that go on and on.
5His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
5Because you saved him, everyone sees how great he is. You gave him honor and splendor.
6For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
6You give him good gifts forever. Being close to you makes him very glad.
7For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
7The king trusts the LORD. The love of God Most High keeps him steady and safe.
8Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
8LORD, your hand will find every enemy. You will take hold of all who hate you.
9Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
9When you show your anger, they will burn like a hot oven. The LORD will swallow them up. Fire will eat them up.
10Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
10Their children will be gone from the earth. Their families will not go on among people.
The old English says "fruit" and "seed." Here those words mean a person's children and grandchildren.
11For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
11They planned to hurt you. They made a wicked plan. But they cannot make it happen.
12Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.
12You will make them turn and run away. You will aim your bow straight at them.
13Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
13Be lifted up high, LORD, by your own strength. We will sing about how strong you are.
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