Prayer for National Victory after Defeat

To the leader: according to The Lily of the Covenant. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

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

you have been angry; now restore us!

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

repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.

3You have made your people suffer hard things;

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

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

to rally to it out of bowshot.60.4 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb because of the truth Selah

5Give victory with your right hand, and answer us,60.5 Another reading is me

so that those whom you love may be rescued.

6God has promised in his sanctuary:60.6 Or by his holiness

‘With exultation I will divide up Shechem,

and portion out the Vale of Succoth.

7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet;

Judah is my sceptre.

8Moab is my wash-basin;

on Edom I hurl my shoe;

over Philistia I shout in triumph.’

9Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

10Have you not rejected us, O God?

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

11O grant us help against the foe,

for human help is worthless.

12With God we shall do valiantly;

it is he who will tread down our foes.