May the LORD Answer You
Psalm 20 summary: what it means
Psalm 20 is a prayer spoken over someone else. The first five verses ask the LORD to answer this person in the day of trouble. They ask him to send help from Zion, remember the person's offerings and grant their heart's desire. The people promise to celebrate the victory and set up banners in God's name. Verse 6 then names who is being prayed for: the LORD's anointed, the king.
Verse 6 shifts to a single voice saying "Now I know" that the LORD saves his anointed. Verse 7 sets trust in chariots and horses against trust in the name of the LORD. The psalm ends with the other side bowed down and fallen, the people standing upright, and a last short cry: Save, LORD.
Psalm 20: May the LORD Answer You
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-20
Psalm 20 commentary: explained verse by verse
May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble.May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,
The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
The psalm opens with a blessing for someone facing a day of trouble. It asks that the LORD answer them and that the name of the God of Jacob set them up on high. The person is not named until verse 6.
Also read Psalm 114:2, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 46:1
send you help from the sanctuary,grant you support from Zion,
Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
The prayer asks for help from the sanctuary and support from Zion. Help is pictured as coming from the place of worship rather than from an army. This sets up the contrast drawn in verse 7.
Also read Psalm 73:17, Isaiah 37:34-35, Isaiah 14:32, Isaiah 12:6
remember all your offerings,and accept your burned sacrifice. Selah.
Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
The request is that God remember all the person's offerings and accept the burnt sacrifice. The verse ends with Selah, a word that also appears in other psalms. The text does not explain it.
Also read Psalm 51:19, Acts 10:4, 1 Peter 2:5, Genesis 4:4
May he grant you your heart’s desire,and fulfill all your counsel.
Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
It asks that God grant the person their heart's desire and fulfil all their counsel, meaning their plans. In the psalm this is a prayer for the king before a day of trouble. The next verse shows the people ready to celebrate the answer.
Also read Proverbs 11:23, John 11:42, Romans 8:27-28, Psalm 21:2
We will triumph in your salvation.In the name of our God, we will set up our banners.May the LORD grant all your requests.
We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
The people speak together here. They promise to triumph in the king's salvation and to set up banners in the name of their God. The verse ends by repeating the hope that the LORD will grant all his requests.
Also read Psalm 21:1, Psalm 118:15, Numbers 10:35-36, Psalm 60:4
Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed.He will answer him from his holy heaven,with the saving strength of his right hand.
Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
The voice changes from we to I. Someone now says "Now I know" that the LORD saves his anointed and will answer him from heaven. The anointed is the king the whole prayer has been about.
Also read Psalm 41:11, Psalm 18:50, Acts 2:33, Psalm 18:35
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Others trust in chariots and horses, the equipment of war. The speakers trust in the name of the LORD their God. The verse sets two kinds of confidence side by side.
Also read 2 Chronicles 20:12-20, Isaiah 31:1, Jeremiah 17:5, 2 Chronicles 14:11
They are bowed down and fallen,but we rise up, and stand upright.
They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
The outcome of the two kinds of trust is shown. Those who relied on chariots and horses are bowed down and fallen. Those who trusted the LORD rise up and stand upright.
Also read Psalm 34:21-22, Psalm 146:5-9, Psalm 125:1, Jeremiah 17:7-8
Save, LORD!Let the King answer us when we call!
Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.
The psalm ends with a short cry: Save, LORD. It asks that the King answer when the people call. The closing line echoes the opening request that the LORD answer in the day of trouble.
Also read Matthew 21:15, Psalm 2:6-10, Psalm 44:4, Psalm 24:7
A prayer from Psalm 20
LORD, answer in the day of trouble. God of Jacob, I bring before you the people I care about and those who carry heavy responsibility. Send them help from your sanctuary and support from Zion. Remember what they have offered to you. Grant them the desire of their hearts and bring their plans to good. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but I want to trust in your name, LORD my God. When others are bowed down and fallen, help us to rise up and stand upright. Save, LORD. Answer us when we call. Amen.
Psalm 20 Bible study questions
- In verses 1 to 5, what does the speaker ask the LORD to do for the person being prayed for?
- In verse 7, what do some people trust in, and what does the speaker say we trust in instead?
- Most of this psalm is a prayer for someone else; what might change for you when you pray these words for another person?
- When you read verse 7, what might chariots and horses stand for in the world you live in?
- Psalm 33:16 to 17 also says a horse is a vain thing for safety; how do those verses sit beside Psalm 20:7?
Questions about Psalm 20
What does Psalm 20 mean?
It is a prayer by the people for their king before a day of trouble. They ask God to answer and help him, and they state that their trust is in the name of the LORD rather than in chariots and horses.
Who wrote Psalm 20?
The heading attributes it to David and addresses it to the Chief Musician.
What does Psalm 20:1 mean?
It is a blessing on someone facing trouble: may the LORD answer you, and may the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high. Verse 6 shows the person is the LORD's anointed king.
What is Psalm 20:4 in the KJV?
The King James Version reads: "Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel."
What does Psalm 20:7 mean?
It contrasts two kinds of trust. Some trust in chariots and horses, but the speakers trust in the name of the LORD their God.
Is there a Psalm 20:16?
No. Psalm 20 has nine verses. It ends with the cry: Save, LORD, and let the King answer us when we call.
Psalm 20 KJV: the King James Version
The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;1
Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;2
Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.3
Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.4
We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.5
Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.6
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.7
They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.8
Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.9
Psalm 20 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
2 יַֽעַנְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗ שֵׁ֤ם ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֬י יַעֲקֹֽב׃
3 יִשְׁלַֽח־עֶזְרְךָ֥ מִקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝מִצִּיּ֗וֹן יִסְעָדֶֽךָּ׃
4 יִזְכֹּ֥ר כָּל־מִנְחֹתֶ֑ךָ וְעוֹלָתְךָ֖ יְדַשְּׁנֶ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃
5 יִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֥ כִלְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְֽכָל־עֲצָתְךָ֥ יְמַלֵּֽא׃
6 נְרַנְּנָ֤ה ׀ בִּ֘ישׁ֤וּעָתֶ֗ךָ וּבְשֵֽׁם־אֱלֹהֵ֥ינוּ נִדְגֹּ֑ל יְמַלֵּ֥א יְ֝הוָ֗ה כָּל־מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽיךָ ׃
7 עַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּ֤י הוֹשִׁ֥יעַ ׀ יְהוָ֗ה מְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹ יַ֭עֲנֵהוּ מִשְּׁמֵ֣י קָדְשׁ֑וֹ בִּ֝גְבֻר֗וֹת יֵ֣שַׁע יְמִינֽוֹ׃
8 אֵ֣לֶּה בָ֭רֶכֶב וְאֵ֣לֶּה בַסּוּסִ֑ים וַאֲנַ֓חְנוּ ׀ בְּשֵׁם־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ נַזְכִּֽיר׃
9 הֵ֭מָּה כָּרְע֣וּ וְנָפָ֑לוּ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ קַּ֝֗מְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃
10 יְהוָ֥ה הוֹשִׁ֑יעָה הַ֝מֶּ֗לֶךְ יַעֲנֵ֥נוּ בְיוֹם־קָרְאֵֽנוּ׃
Psalm 20 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 19 there.
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1 Unto the end. A psalm for David.
2 May the Lord hear thee in the day of tribulation: may the name of the God of Jacob protect thee.
3 May he send thee help from the sanctuary: and defend thee out of Sion.
4 May he be mindful of all thy sacrifices: and may thy whole burnt offering be made fat.
5 May he give thee according to thy own heart; and confirm all thy counsels.
6 We will rejoice in thy salvation; and in the name of our God we shall be exalted.
7 The Lord fulfill all thy petitions: now have I known that the Lord hath saved his anointed. He will hear him from his holy heaven: the salvation of his right hand is in powers.
8 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will call upon the name of the Lord our God.
9 They are bound, and have fallen; but we are risen, and are set upright. O Lord, save the king: and hear us in the day that we shall call upon thee.
Psalm 20 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 19.
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1 In finem. Psalmus David.
2 Exaudiat te Dominus in die tribulationis; protegat te nomen Dei Jacob.
3 Mittat tibi auxilium de sancto, et de Sion tueatur te.
4 Memor sit omnis sacrificii tui, et holocaustum tuum pingue fiat.
5 Tribuat tibi secundum cor tuum, et omne consilium tuum confirmet.
6 Lætabimur in salutari tuo; et in nomine Dei nostri magnificabimur.
7 Impleat Dominus omnes petitiones tuas; nunc cognovi quoniam salvum fecit Dominus christum suum. Exaudiet illum de cælo sancto suo, in potentatibus salus dexteræ ejus.
8 Hi in curribus, et hi in equis; nos autem in nomine Domini Dei nostri invocabimus.
9 Ipsi obligati sunt, et ceciderunt; nos autem surreximus, et erecti sumus.
10 Domine, salvum fac regem, et exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te.
Printable Psalm 20: free, large print and PDF
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Psalm 20 at a glance
| Verses | 9 |
| Heading in the text | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David and addresses it to the Chief Musician. |
| Type | Royal and Prayer |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 19 |
Read Psalm 20 when you are facing
protectiontrusting godstrength
Psalm 20 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 20 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 20 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source