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 defenses;
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.t Selah*
5Give victory with your right hand and answer us,u
so that those whom you love may be rescued.*
6God has promised in his sanctuary,v
“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 scepter.*
8Moab is my washbasin;
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.*