Psalm 21

Overview

"In YHWH's strength"

Purpose: To rejoice in YHWH's strength which causes the king to prosper

Content: The king is trusting in YHWH. YHWH's presence brings joy to the king so that the king's presence brings fear to his enemies.

Message: YHWH's strength brings confidence and joy to his covenant king.

Author: David

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 21.

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1. For the director. A psalm by David.

2. YHWH, the king rejoices because of your strength,

and how greatly he exults because of your salvation.

3. You have granted him his heart’s desire,

and not withheld his lips’ request.

Selah.

4. For you meet him with good blessings;

You place a golden crown upon his head.

5. He asked for life from you; you have granted it to him;

Long life, forever and ever.

6. His honour is great because of your salvation;

You bestow glory and majesty upon him.

7. For you give him blessings forever;

You make him glad with joy with your presence.

8. For the king trusts in YHWH,

and because of the faithfulness of the Most High, he will not be shaken.

9. Your hand will reach to all your enemies;

Your right hand will lay hold of those who hate you.

10. You will place them as [in] a fiery oven at the time of your appearance;

YHWH will swallow them up in his anger, and fire will consume them.

11. You will destroy their offspring from the earth,

and their descendants from humankind.

12. Because even if they planned evil against you

[and] they devised a plot, they would not succeed.

13. Because you will make them turn back,

With your bowstrings you will take aim at their faces.

14. YHWH, be exalted in your strength!

Let us sing about and praise your might!

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 21, click here.

Videos

Poetic Features Video

Video forthcoming

Exegetical Issues Video

Video forthcoming

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 21 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

• v. 1
• v. 2
• v. 3
• v. 4
• v. 5
• v. 6
• v. 7
• v. 8
• v. 9
• v. 10
• v. 11
• v. 12
• v. 13
• v. 14

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Exegetical Issues

• The Subject(s) in Ps. 21:9-13
• The Text and Meaning of Ps. 21:10a
• The Meaning of Psalm 21:13