The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 20
In brief
Psalm 20 is a prayer of David, sung by the people for their king on the eve of battle. It asks that the Lord answer in the day of trouble, send help from the sanctuary and fulfill the king's plans. The psalm peaks in a declaration of trust: others rely on chariots and horses, but we call on the name of the Lord our God. It ends with a prayer that God save the king.
According to its title, Psalm 20 is a psalm of David, entrusted to the choirmaster, the person in charge of the singing in worship. It is a royal psalm: the people pray in it for their king in the day of trouble, most likely on the eve of a battle, while sacrifices were being offered at the sanctuary. The title gives no circumstance, and the text does not say which battle it has in mind. It was probably sung by several voices: the assembly blesses the king, then a single voice announces that God saves his anointed. It forms a pair with Psalm 21, which thanks God for the victory granted. Christians also read in it a prayer for the Messiah, the anointed one above all. Today believers pray it to intercede for a loved one or a leader who is facing a trial, and to say again that their trust is not in their own strength.
The chapter in 3 parts
1May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,
2send you help from the sanctuary, grant you support from Zion,
3remember all your offerings, and accept your burned sacrifice.
4May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your counsel.
5We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests.
6Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of Yahweh our God.
8They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright.
9Save, Yahweh! Let the King answer us when we call!
Understanding Psalm 20 verse by verse
v. 1-3The people pray for their king in the day of trouble
The psalm opens with a blessing the people speak over their king: “May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble.” (Yahweh is God's personal name, which many Bibles translate as the Lord.) The king does not face danger alone: the whole assembly intercedes for him. The God of Jacob is the one the patriarch called the God who answered him in the day of his distress (Genesis 35:3). His name is God as he has made himself known, faithful and present. The verb translated set you up on high means to place in a high spot, out of reach. Help will not come first from ramparts or the army, but from the sanctuary, from Zion, where God had chosen to dwell among his people. Verse 3 mentions the offerings the king most likely presented before the battle: the people ask God to remember them and accept them with favor. The Hebrew word selah, which many Bibles place at the end of this verse, marks a pause. For you, this is a model: do not leave anyone alone in distress, but carry them in prayer.
v. 4-5Plans entrusted to God and joy ahead of time
The people go on: “May he grant you your heart’s desire.” This is not a blank check for every whim. It is the desire of a king who has come before God with his offerings and who places his plans in God's hands. Another psalm says: delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). The more the heart is turned toward God, the more its desires line up with his. In verse 5, faith moves ahead: “We will triumph in your salvation.” The Hebrew verb carries the idea of a shout of joy. Even before the battle, the people see themselves raising their banners, the flags of victory, in the name of God and not in the name of the king. For you, this is an invitation to entrust your plans to God and let him have the last word, and to praise him before you have seen the answer.
v. 6Now I know: the certainty that God saves his anointed
Suddenly, a single voice speaks: “Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed.” It may be the voice of a priest, a prophet or the king himself, receiving during worship the assurance that the prayer has been heard. Nothing has changed yet on the battlefield, and yet the certainty is there. It does not rest on the strength of the army, but on the character of God. The people were looking for help from the sanctuary in Zion; the answer comes from heaven itself, God's holy dwelling, with the saving strength of his right hand. The anointed one is the king consecrated with oil; in Hebrew, this is the word that gave us Messiah. Christians see in Jesus the anointed one above all, whom God did not leave in death but raised. For you, this certainty does not guarantee the outcome you imagine. It assures you that God hears, that he is faithful, and that his salvation will have the last word.
v. 7-8Chariots and horses, or the name of the Lord
Here is the best-known verse of the psalm: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses.” At that time, war chariots were the most fearsome weapon, the weapon of great powers like Egypt. The prophet Isaiah would later denounce those who rely on horses and chariots instead of looking to God (Isaiah 31:1). God's people do not deny that these forces exist, but they choose where to place their trust: “but we trust in the name of Yahweh our God.” Verse 8 shows the result: “They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright.” Those who counted on their power give way and fall, those who lean on God hold firm and stay on their feet. Today, the chariots are called money, connections, degrees, health or experience. These are not bad things in themselves, and God can use them. The question is what you truly lean on when everything starts to shake.
v. 9The last cry: Lord, save the king
The psalm ends as it began, with a prayer. The trust just declared does not stop the people from going on asking: faith does not replace prayer, it feeds it. This verse can be read in two ways. Following the ancient Greek translation, many Bibles read: Lord, save the king! The Hebrew can also be divided differently, as the World English Bible does: “Save, Yahweh! Let the King answer us when we call!” The King would then be God himself, the true king above the human king. Both readings say something right: the earthly king depends entirely on the King of kings. For centuries, Christians have taken up this verse in their liturgy to pray for those who govern them, as Paul asks (1 Timothy 2:1-2). You can do the same, whatever your political opinions.
How to pray Psalm 20
When to pray this psalm
- When a friend or family member is facing an operation, a court case or some other ordeal, and you want to pray for them.
- Before a job interview, a competitive exam or a test, to place your plans in God's hands.
- For your pastor, the leaders of your church or those who govern your country, when they carry heavy decisions.
- When you are tempted to bet everything on your salary, your connections or your experience rather than on God.
- When you are going through a day of trouble yourself and need others to carry the prayer with you.
- Before launching a family, church or business project, to place it under the name of the Lord.
A prayer inspired by Psalm 20
Lord, I come to bring before you those I love who are going through a day of trouble. Answer them, God of Jacob, you who answered Jacob when he was in anguish. May your name set them on high, out of reach. Send them help from your presence, and sustain them when their strength runs out. Remember their faithfulness and their prayers. Grant them their heart's desire, if it comes from you, and fulfill the plans that please you. I want to rejoice in your salvation ahead of time, even before I see the answer. I confess to you: I too often lean on my chariots and my horses, my salary, my connections, my experience. Forgive me. Today I choose to trust in your name. When what seemed solid bows down and falls, keep me standing. I also pray for those who govern us and for the leaders of your Church: guide them and give them wisdom. You are the King above all kings. Answer us when we call. Amen.
Key verses
May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,
The people pray for their king from the very first line: distress is not faced alone, the community intercedes for the one who carries the battle.
We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests.
In faith, the people rejoice ahead of time over the salvation and raise their banners in the name of their God. Praise comes before victory.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of Yahweh our God.
The contrast is sharp: others count on chariots and horses, Israel calls on the name of the Lord. This is one of the most quoted verses of the psalm.
They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright.
The result is plain to see: those who lean on their own strength fall, those who trust in God stay on their feet.
Bible verses to meditate on
Test your knowledge
What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Psalm 20
What does Psalm 20 mean?
Psalm 20 is a community prayer for the king before battle. The people ask God to answer him, send him help and fulfill his plans. They then affirm their trust: victory comes neither from chariots nor from horses, but from the name of the Lord. It is a text about depending on God in the face of battles.
Who wrote Psalm 20?
The title attributes it to David and addresses it to the choirmaster, that is, the person in charge of music for worship. It was most likely sung by the assembly before the king left for war, or during a feast. Christians also read in it a prayer for the Messiah, the anointed one above all.
How do you pray Psalm 20 for someone?
Replace the word king with the name of a loved one, a leader or a brother in difficulty, and pray verses 2 to 5 aloud for them. Ask God for help, protection and the fulfillment of what he has put in their heart. Finish with verse 8, declaring that your trust is in the Lord.
Articles quoting Psalm 20
World English Bible translation — public domain.