Psalms
Summary
Psalm 21 is a royal psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating a major victory and the blessings bestowed upon the King. The congregation rejoices in God's strength and the King's "heart’s desire," noting that God has set a "crown of pure gold" on his head. The psalm emphasizes that the King's security rests in his trust in the LORD and the "unfailing love of the Most High." It concludes with a description of God's judgement on His enemies, who will be consumed as in a "fiery oven." The ultimate goal is that God would be "exalted in your own strength."
The king rejoices in your strength, O LORD. How great is his joy in the victories you give!
You have granted him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.
You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him, length of days for ever and ever.
Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendour and majesty.
Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.
When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. the LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them.
You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind.
Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.
For you will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.
Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.