Psalms 20: Trusting the Name of the LORD

The people ask God to grant victory to their anointed king.

Psalms 20: A Prayer for the King in Battle

Following the personal praise of Psalms 19, this chapter is a communal prayer offered on behalf of the king, asking the LORD to hear him in the day of trouble and remember his offerings and sacrifices before battle.


Yahweh answer thee, in the day of distress, The Name of the God of Jacob give thee safety;

Send thy help out of the sanctuary, and, out of Zion, sustain thee;

Remember every present of thine, and, thine ascending-sacrifice, esteem. [Selah.]

Give thee according to thy heart, and, all thy purposes, fulfil.

We will shout aloud in thy salvation, and, in the Name of our God, shall we become great, Yahweh fulfil all thy petitions.

Now, do I know that Yahweh, hath saved, his Anointed One,—He answereth him out of his holy heavens, by the mighty saving deeds of his own right hand.

These, by chariots, and, those, by horses, but, we, by the Name of Yahweh our God, will prevail.

They, have bowed down and fallen, but, we, have arisen, and stand upright.

Yahweh, hath saved the king. Answer us, then, on the day when we call.

Its most quoted line contrasts trust in chariots and horses with trust in the name of the LORD, an idea reinforced in <a href="/bible/rotherham/isaiah/chapter-31/1">Isaiah 31:1</a>, closing with the cry 'Save, LORD' before the victory song of <a href="/bible/rotherham/psalms/chapter-21">Psalms 21</a>.