Psalms 20:4

May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — A communal prayer spoken by the congregation to a king on the eve of battle, asking that God grant his intentions. The king is the object of the petition, not the speaker.

The words — עֲצָתְךָ ('a.tsa.té.kha), "your plan/counsel," is the operative noun: the Hebrew distinguishes the heart's desire (כְּלִבְבֶךָ) from the concrete plans, and the verb יְמַלֵּא (ye.ma.le'), "may He fill/fulfill," is the same root used for filling the tabernacle with glory (Exodus 40:34).

The thread — Psalms 145:19 ties fulfillment of desires specifically to those who fear the LORD; Psalms 37:4 makes delight in the LORD the condition; Matthew 21:22 shifts the condition to belief.

Why it lands — The verse is a request, not a guarantee; it places human plans under divine discretion and ties them to the relational context of the surrounding verses (offerings, fear of God, communal prayer).

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

יִֽתֶּן־yi.ten-may he giveלְךָ֥le./Khato/ youכִלְבָבֶ֑ךָkhi/l.va.Ve./khaaccording to/ heart/ your וְֽכָל־ve./kholand/ every עֲצָתְךָ֥'a.tza.te./Khaplan/ your יְמַלֵּֽא׃ye.ma.Le'may he fulfill

King James Version

Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

Cross-references

Psalms 145:19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.
Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Psalms 21:2 You have granted his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
John 16:23 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
Romans 8:27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Proverbs 11:23 The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
John 11:42 I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me.”