Psalm 20
Psalm 20 is the 20th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 19. In Latin, it is known by the incipit, "Exaudiat te Dominus". The psalm is attributed to David. This psalm and the following one are closely related: they are both liturgical psalms: the first is an intercession, the second is a thanksgiving; in both, the king is the prominent figure.
Psalm 20 is used in both Jewish and Christian liturgies. It has often been set to music.
History
In the International Critical Commentary series, Charles and Emilie Briggs suggest that it was written during the reign of Jehoshaphat.Text
The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 19.| # | Hebrew | English | Greek |
| Εἰς τὸ τέλος· ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυΐδ. - | |||
| 1 | The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; | ΕΠΑΚΟΥΣΑΙ σου Κύριος ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεως, ὑπερασπίσαι σου τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ ᾿Ιακώβ. | |
| 2 | Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; | ἐξαποστείλαι σοι βοήθειαν ἐξ ἁγίου καὶ ἐκ Σιὼν ἀντιλάβοιτό σου. | |
| 3 | Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. | μνησθείη πάσης θυσίας σου καὶ τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμά σου πιανάτω.. | |
| 4 | Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. | δῴη σοι Κύριος κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν βουλήν σου πληρώσαι. | |
| 5 | 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. | ἀγαλλιασόμεθα ἐν τῷ σωτηρίῳ σου καὶ ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου Θεοῦ ἡμῶν μεγαλυνθησόμεθα. πληρώσαι Κύριος πάντα τὰ αἰτήματά σου. | |
| 6 | 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. | νῦν ἔγνων ὅτι ἔσωσε Κύριος τὸν χριστὸν αὐτοῦ· ἐπακούσεται αὐτοῦ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἁγίου αὐτοῦ· ἐν δυναστείαις ἡ σωτηρία τῆς δεξιᾶς αὐτοῦ. | |
| 7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. | οὗτοι ἐν ἅρμασι καὶ οὗτοι ἐν ἵπποις, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου Θεοῦ ἡμῶν μεγαλυνθησόμεθα. | |
| 8 | They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. | αὐτοὶ συνεποδίσθησαν καὶ ἔπεσαν, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἀνέστημεν καὶ ἀνωρθώθημεν. | |
| 9 | Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call. | Κύριε, σῶσον τὸν βασιλέα, καὶ ἐπάκουσον ἡμῶν, ἐν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπικαλεσώμεθά σε. |
Usage
In Jewish prayer
The 70 words in this psalm may reference the 70 years of exile between the first and second temples, or as suggested in the Zohar, the 70 cries of pain associated with child birth. It has been inserted into daily prayer following the loss of the second temple to symbolize the somber period prior to the construction of the third temple.It is used in Jewish prayer in several ways:
- The psalm is recited daily in most communities. In Sephardic communities, it is omitted on any day that Tachnun is omitted. On Ashkenazic communities, it is omitted only on Shabbat, Yom Tov, Rosh Chodesh, Chol Hamoed, Tisha B'Av, Hanukkah, Purim, Shushan Purim, the 14th and 15th of Adar I, and Erev Yom Kippur and Erev Passover. In this context it is known as Lamenatzeiach, and is recited between Ashrei and Uva Letziyon toward the end of Shacharit. In the Italian rite, it is recited as part of long Tachnun, but it is never recited between Ashrei and Uva Letziyon.
- Verses 2 and 10 are part of the opening paragraph of the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Verse 10 is the 11th verse of V'hu Rachum in Pesukei Dezimra, is the final verse of Yehi Kivod in Pesukei Dezimra, is found in Uva Letzion, is the second of two verses recited as an introduction at Maariv, and is part of Havdalah.
- It is also considered appropriate to recite in times of stress, such as when in labor.
- It is recited either at the beginning or the end of the Yom Kippur Katan services.
Coptic Orthodox Church