Psalm 60:11
New International Version
Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.

New Living Translation
Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless.

English Standard Version
Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!

Berean Standard Bible
Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

King James Bible
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

New King James Version
Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless.

New American Standard Bible
Oh give us help against the enemy, For rescue by man is worthless.

NASB 1995
O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain.

NASB 1977
O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain.

Legacy Standard Bible
Oh give us help against the adversary, For salvation by man is worthless.

Amplified Bible
Give us help against the enemy, For the help of man is worthless (ineffectual, without purpose).

Christian Standard Bible
Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless.

American Standard Version
Give us help against the adversary; For vain is the help of man.

Contemporary English Version
Help us defeat our enemies! No one else can rescue us.

English Revised Version
Give us help against the adversary: for vain is the help of man.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Give us help against the enemy because human assistance is worthless.

Good News Translation
Help us against the enemy; human help is worthless.

International Standard Version
Help us in our distress, for human help is worthless.

Majority Standard Bible
Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

NET Bible
Give us help against the enemy, for any help men might offer is futile.

New Heart English Bible
Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain.

Webster's Bible Translation
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

World English Bible
Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Give to us help from adversity, "" And the deliverance of man [is] vain.

Young's Literal Translation
Give to us help from adversity, And vain is the deliverance of man.

Smith's Literal Translation
Give to us help from straits, for vain the salvation of man.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the salvation of man.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Grant us help from tribulation. For salvation from man is empty.

New American Bible
Give us aid against the foe; worthless is human help.

New Revised Standard Version
O grant us help against the foe, for human help is worthless.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Give us strength against our enemies; for vain is the help of man.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Give us help against our enemies, because the salvation of man is false.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Give us help against the adversary; For vain is the help of man.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the deliverance of man.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Victory Through God
10Have You not rejected us, O God? Will You no longer march out, O God, with our armies? 11Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. 12With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.…

Cross References
Psalm 108:12
Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

Psalm 146:3
Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

Jeremiah 17:5
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.

2 Chronicles 32:8
With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Hosea 1:7
Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”

Isaiah 2:22
Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?

Isaiah 30:1-3
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin. / They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade. / But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and the refuge of Egypt’s shade your disgrace.

1 Samuel 14:6
Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

2 Kings 19:19
And now, O LORD our God, please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

Proverbs 21:31
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.

Isaiah 20:5-6
Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. / And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”

Isaiah 36:6
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

Isaiah 57:13
When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.”

Jeremiah 2:36-37
How impulsive you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria. / Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper by their help.”


Treasury of Scripture

Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

Give

Psalm 25:22
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Psalm 130:8
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

vain

Psalm 108:12
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

Psalm 124:1-3
A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; …

Psalm 146:3
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

help [heb.

Psalm 62:1
To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

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Adversary Adversity Aid Deliverance Enemy Foe Grant Help Trouble Vain Worthless
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Adversary Adversity Aid Deliverance Enemy Foe Grant Help Trouble Vain Worthless
Psalm 60
1. David, complaining to God of former judgment
4. now upon better hope, prays for deliverance
6. Comforting himself in God's promises, he craves that help whereon he trusts














Give us aid against the enemy
This phrase is a plea for divine intervention in the face of adversaries. In the historical context, King David often faced numerous enemies, both external and internal, such as the Edomites mentioned earlier in the psalm. The request for aid underscores the belief in God's sovereignty and power over human conflicts. Biblically, this reflects the consistent theme of reliance on God for victory, as seen in battles like those in Exodus 17:8-16, where Moses depended on God's power to defeat the Amalekites. Theologically, it points to the spiritual battles believers face, echoing Ephesians 6:12, which speaks of the struggle against spiritual forces of evil.

for the help of man is worthless
This phrase highlights the futility of relying solely on human strength and wisdom. Historically, Israel's military might was often insufficient without divine support, as seen in instances like the defeat at Ai in Joshua 7 when they acted without God's guidance. Culturally, this reflects a worldview that prioritizes divine providence over human effort, a common theme in the wisdom literature, such as Proverbs 21:31, which states that victory comes from the Lord. This phrase also typologically points to Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate source of help and salvation, contrasting human limitations with divine sufficiency, as seen in John 15:5, where Jesus declares that apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 60, David was the king of Israel and a man after God's own heart. He often sought God's guidance and strength in times of trouble.

2. Israel
The nation of God's chosen people, often facing battles and needing divine intervention for victory.

3. Edom
A nation often in conflict with Israel, representing the enemies that David refers to in this Psalm.

4. Joab
David's military commander, who played a significant role in the battles against Edom and other enemies.

5. The Battle
The context of Psalm 60 is a time of military struggle, where Israel faced formidable enemies and needed God's intervention for success.
Teaching Points
Dependence on God
True victory and aid come from God, not from human efforts or alliances. We must prioritize seeking God's help in our battles, whether they are physical, spiritual, or emotional.

The Futility of Human Help
Human strength and wisdom are limited and often fail. Recognizing this helps us to place our trust in God's infinite power and wisdom.

Prayer as a First Response
Like David, we should make prayer our first response in times of trouble, acknowledging our need for God's intervention.

God's Sovereignty in Battles
Understanding that God is sovereign over all situations encourages us to trust His plans and timing, even when circumstances seem dire.

Faith in Action
While we trust in God, we are also called to act in faith, preparing and doing our part while relying on His ultimate guidance and strength.Verse 11. - Give us help from trouble. Faith combats doubt, and, overcoming it, finds an utterance - "Give us help now, whatever thou hast done in the past." Our trouble is great. "Help us from it." For vain is the help of man. We have, therefore, no hope but in thee.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Give
הָֽבָה־ (hā·ḇāh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3051: To give, to put, imperatively, come

us
לָּ֣נוּ (lā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

aid
עֶזְרָ֣ת (‘ez·rāṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5833: Help, helper, assistance

against the enemy,
מִצָּ֑ר (miṣ·ṣār)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6862: Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent

for the help
תְּשׁוּעַ֥ת (tə·šū·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8668: Deliverance, salvation

of man
אָדָם׃‪‬ (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

is worthless.
וְ֝שָׁ֗וְא (wə·šāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7723: Evil, idolatry, uselessness


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OT Poetry: Psalm 60:11 Give us help against the adversary (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 60:10
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