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Psalm 3[a]

Threatened but Trusting

A psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.[b](A)

I

How many are my foes, Lord!
    How many rise against me!
[c]How many say of me,
    “There is no salvation for him in God.”(B)
Selah
But you, Lord, are a shield around me;
    my glory, you keep my head high.(C)

II

With my own voice I will call out to the Lord,
    and he will answer me from his holy mountain.
Selah
I lie down and I fall asleep,
    [and] I will wake up, for the Lord sustains me.(D)
I do not fear, then, thousands of people
    arrayed against me on every side.

III

Arise, Lord! Save me, my God!
    For you strike the cheekbone of all my foes;
    you break the teeth of the wicked.(E)
Salvation is from the Lord!
    May your blessing be upon your people!(F)
Selah

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 3 An individual lament complaining of enemies who deny that God will come to the rescue (Ps 3:2–3). Despite such taunts the psalmist hopes for God’s protection even in sleep (Ps 3:4–7). The Psalm prays for an end to the enemies’ power to speak maliciously (Ps 3:8) and closes peacefully with an expression of trust (Ps 3:9).
  2. 3:1 The superscription, added later, relates the Psalm to an incident in the life of David.
  3. 3:3, 3:5, 3:9 Selah: the term is generally considered a direction to the cantor or musicians but its exact meaning is not known. It occurs seventy-one times in thirty-nine Psalms.

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.

A Davidic Psalm, when he fled from his son Absalom.

God Delivers His Servants

Lord, I have so many persecutors!
    Many are rising up against me!
Many are saying about me,
    “God will never deliver him!”
Interlude

But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
I cry aloud[a] to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.
Interlude
I lie down and sleep,
    I wake up, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear multitudes of[b] people,
    who set themselves against me on every side.

Arise, Lord!
    Deliver me, my God!
For you strike the jaw of all my enemies,
    and you break the teeth of the wicked.
Deliverance comes from the Lord!
    May your blessing be on your people.
Interlude

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 3:4 Lit. with my voice
  2. Psalm 3:6 Or ten thousand