Prayer in Difficult Times

For the choir director: according to “The Lily of Testimony.”a A Davidic •Miktam for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, killing 12,000.b

1God, You have rejected us;

You have broken outc against us;

You have been angry. Restore us!d, e

2You have shaken the land and split it open.

Heal its fissures, for it shudders.f

3You have made Your people suffer hardship;

You have given us wine to drink

that made us stagger.g

4You have given a signal flag to those who •fear You,

so that they can flee before the archers.h, i•Selah

5Save with Your right hand, and answer me,

so that those You love may be rescued.j

6God has spoken in His sanctuary:k

“I will triumph! I will divide up Shechem.l

I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.m

7Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine,

and Ephraim is My helmet;n

Judah is My scepter.o

8Moab is My washbasin.p

I throw My sandal on Edom;q

I shout in triumph over Philistia.”r

9Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?s

10God, haven’t You rejected us?

God, You do not march out with our armies.t

11Give us aid against the foe,

for human help is worthless.u

12With God we will perform valiantly;v

He will trample our foes.w