Tap any verse number for what that verse means.
1The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
6Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.
Understand This
Psalm 20, explained
What Psalm 20 is saying
Psalm 20 is a royal intercession, likely recited by the congregation on behalf of the king before battle. The series of jussive verbs ('May the LORD answer you,' 'May He send you help from the sanctuary') reflects liturgical prayer for military success. The pivotal declaration—'Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God'—contrasts military technology with covenant faith.
The background behind it
Pre-battle liturgies were common in ancient Near Eastern cultures, but Israel's version distinctively grounded military hope in the covenant name of YHWH rather than in divine images or military hardware. The psalm pairs with Psalm 21 as a before-and-after battle sequence.
Themes running underneath
The psalm develops the theology of the divine name as the locus of power—trusting 'in the name' is not magical invocation but reliance on the character and covenant commitments that the name represents. The congregational form emphasizes that the king's battle is the people's battle.
Why it still matters
In any arena where the temptation is to trust in resources, strategy, or human strength, this psalm redirects trust to God's character. It models intercessory prayer that names specific needs while anchoring hope in God's faithfulness.
Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.