Psalms 60

O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

1God, you have pushed us away. You have scattered us. You were angry with us. Please turn back to us again.

2Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

2You made the land shake. You broke it open. Please heal the cracks, because the land is still shaking.

3Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

3You have let your people go through hard times. You gave us wine that made us stumble around.

Note"The wine of astonishment" means wine that makes a person dizzy and unsteady. It is a picture of how shaken the people feel.

4Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

4You gave a flag to the people who honor you. It can be lifted high because of what is true. Selah.

Note"Selah" is a word from the old song. Nobody today knows exactly what it meant. It may have been a sign for the music to pause.

5That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.

5Rescue the people you love. Save us with your strong right hand. Please answer me.

6God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

6God has spoken from his holy place. I will be glad. I will divide up the town of Shechem. I will measure out the valley of Succoth.

7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;

7Gilead is mine. Manasseh is mine. Ephraim is the helmet that guards my head. Judah holds my ruler's stick.

8Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

8Moab is my washing bowl. I toss my sandal onto Edom to show it is mine. I shout in victory over Philistia.

NoteA washing bowl held dirty water for feet. Throwing your sandal onto a piece of land was an old way of saying, "This is mine now." Both lines mean these nations belong to God.

9Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

9Who will bring me into the city with strong walls? Who will lead me into Edom?

10Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?

10God, is it not you? You are the one who pushed us away. You stopped marching out with our armies.

11Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

11Help us when we are in trouble. Help that comes from people is worth nothing.

12Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

12With God we will be brave and strong. He is the one who will crush our enemies.