Print Page Options Listen to Psalm 3

Psalm 3[a]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(A)

Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.(B)[b]

But you, Lord, are a shield(C) around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.(D)
I call out to the Lord,(E)
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.(F)

I lie down and sleep;(G)
    I wake again,(H) because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear(I) though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.(J)

Arise,(K) Lord!
    Deliver me,(L) my God!
Strike(M) all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth(N) of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverance.(O)
    May your blessing(P) be on your people.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-8 is numbered 3:2-9.
  2. Psalm 3:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 4 and 8.

1-2 God! Look! Enemies past counting!
Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery:
“Hah! No help for him from God!”

3-4 But you, God, shield me on all sides;
You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
With all my might I shout up to God,
His answers thunder from the holy mountain.

5-6 I stretch myself out. I sleep.
Then I’m up again—rested, tall and steady,
Fearless before the enemy mobs
Coming at me from all sides.

Up, God! My God, help me!
Slap their faces,
First this cheek, then the other,
Your fist hard in their teeth!

Real help comes from God.
Your blessing clothes your people!

Morning Prayer of Trust in God.

A Psalm of David. When he fled from Absalom his son.

O Lord, how my enemies have increased!
Many are rising up against me.

Many are saying of me,
“There is no help [no salvation] for him in God.” [a]Selah.


But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head.

With my voice I was crying to the Lord,
And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.

I lay down and slept [safely];
I awakened, for the Lord sustains me.

I will not be intimidated or afraid of the ten thousands
Who have set themselves against me all around.


Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!
For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek;
You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.

Salvation belongs to the Lord;
May Your blessing be upon Your people. Selah.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 3:2 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude or may have some other unknown meaning; and so throughout.

Psalm 3

A psalm of David, regarding the time David fled from his son Absalom.

O Lord, I have so many enemies;
    so many are against me.
So many are saying,
    “God will never rescue him!” Interlude[a]

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.

Arise, O Lord!
    Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
    Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
Victory comes from you, O Lord.
    May you bless your people. Interlude

Footnotes

  1. 3:2 Hebrew Selah. The meaning of this word is uncertain, though it is probably a musical or literary term. It is rendered Interlude throughout the Psalms.

Psalm 3

Confidence in Troubled Times

A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.(A)

Lord, how my foes increase!
There are many who attack me.(B)
Many say about me,
“There is no help for him in God.”(C)Selah

But You, Lord, are a shield around me,(D)
my glory,(E) and the One who lifts up my head.(F)
I cry aloud to the Lord,
and He answers me from His holy mountain.(G)Selah

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again because the Lord sustains me.(H)
I am not afraid of the thousands of people
who have taken their stand against me on every side.(I)

Rise up, Lord!(J)
Save me, my God!
You strike all my enemies on the cheek;(K)
You break the teeth of the wicked.(L)
Salvation belongs to the Lord;(M)
may Your blessing be on Your people.(N)Selah