Psalm 60 Catholic: Through God We Shall Do Valiantly

Psalm 60 is a prayer after defeat: “O God, thou hast cast us off, and hast destroyed us; thou hast been angry, and hast had mercy on us.” It ends with renewed confidence: “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the salvation of man. Through God we shall do mightily: and he shall bring to nothing them that afflict us.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 59. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.

Psalm 60 in the Douay-Rheims Bible

Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the inscription of a title, to David himself, for doctrine,
When he set fire to Mesopotamia of Syria and Sobal and Joab returned and slew of Edom, in the vale of the saltpits, twelve thousand men.
O God, thou hast cast us off, and hast destroyed us; thou hast been angry, and hast had mercy on us.
Thou hast moved the earth, and hast troubled it: heal thou the breaches thereof, for it has been moved.
Thou hast shewn thy people hard things; thou hast made us drink wine of sorrow.
Thou hast given a warning to them that fear thee: that they may flee from before the bow: That thy beloved may be delivered.
Save me with thy right hand, and hear me.
God hath spoken in his holy place: I will rejoice, and I will divide Sichem; and will mete out the vale of tabernacles.
Galaad is mine, and Manasses is mine: and Ephraim is the strength of my head. Juda is my king:
Moab is the pot of my hope. Into Edom will I stretch out my shoe: to me the foreigners are made subject.
Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go out with our armies?
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the salvation of man.
Through God we shall do mightily: and he shall bring to nothing them that afflict us.

Psalm 60 or Psalm 59?

The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 59 is Psalm 60 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Deus, repulisti nos, et destruxisti nos. See how many psalms are there?

What the psalm means

Shaken like an earthquake: “Thou hast moved the earth, and hast troubled it: heal thou the breaches thereof.”
A banner for those who fear God: a sign to rally under.
God’s promise: God speaks from his holy place and claims all the lands as his own.
Human help is vain: only God can give victory.
Valor through God: “Through God we shall do mightily.” Its last verses reappear in Psalm 108.

How the Church uses Psalm 60

In the Liturgy of the Hours.
For a nation or community after disaster, as a prayer for healing and renewed courage. See psalms for strength.

A prayer with Psalm 60

Written for this page:

Lord, you have shaken us and let us suffer; now heal our wounds.
Give us your help in our trouble, for human help is vain.
With you we shall do valiantly;
lead us, defend us and bring us peace. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

Where is “Vain is the help of man”?

Psalm 60:13 in modern Bibles (59:13 in the Douay-Rheims: “vain is the salvation of man”).

What is Psalm 60 about?

A lament after national defeat and a prayer for God’s help, ending in confidence that with God his people will triumph.

More psalms and prayers

Texts and sources

Scripture: Psalm 59 (60), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
The prayer was written for this page.