Psa 20 | HCSB | STEP | For the choir director . A Davidic psalm . May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble ; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.

Psalms 20

Deliverance in Battle

1 For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

May ^{▼▼Yahweh/Yah: Or The Lord; the personal name of God in Hebrew; "Yah" is the shortened form of the name.}Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble; ^b
may the name of Jacob’s God protect you. ^c
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary
and sustain you from ^{▼▼Zion: Originally a term for the fortified section of Jerusalem and then, by extension, used for the temple and the city of Jerusalem both in the present time and in the future}Zion. ^e
3 May He remember all your offerings
and accept your ^{▼▼burnt offering(s): Or holocaust, an offering completely burned to ashes; it was used in connection with worship, seeking God's favor, expiating sin, or averting judgment.}burnt offering. ^{g
,} ^{▼▼Selah: A Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain; various interpretations include: (1) a musical notation, (2) a pause for silence, (3) a signal for worshipers to fall prostrate on the ground, (4) a term for the worshipers to call out, and (5) a word meaning "forever"}
Selah

4 May He give you what your heart desires ⁱ
and fulfill your whole purpose. ^j
5 Let us shout for joy at your victory ^k
and lift the banner in the name of our God. ^l
May Yahweh fulfill all your requests. ^m

6 Now I know that the Lord gives victory to His anointed; ⁿ
He will answer him from His holy heaven
with mighty victories from ^{▼▼Some Hb mss, Aq, Sym, Jer, Syr read with the victorious might of} His right hand. ^p
7 Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses,
but we take pride in the name of Yahweh our God. ^q
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand firm. ^r
9 Lord, give victory to the king! ^s
May He ^{▼▼Or Lord, save. May the king} answer us on the day that we call.