Psalm 60

Psalm 60:3, 4-5, 12-13

#371 Weekday Year II Context (Monday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time)

R. (7b) Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.

O God, you have rejected us and broken our defenses;
you have been angry; rally us!
R. Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.

You have rocked the country and split it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
You have made your people feel hardships;
you have given us stupefying wine.
R. Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.

Have not you, O God, rejected us,
so that you go not forth, O God, with our armies?
Give us aid against the foe,
for worthless is the help of men.
R. Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.
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Commentary on Ps 60:3, 4-5, 12-13

Psalm 60 is a community lament. In these strophes we hear the psalmist complain that the armies of Israel have failed in battle, and implore the Lord for his assistance. The consequences of this failure are attributed to the fact that the people have fallen into distress caused by lack of faith. The concluding strophe gives witness to their dependence upon the Lord’s aid: “Give us aid against the foe, for worthless is the help of men.”

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