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 will not be afraid of 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

A Call to Yahweh in Distress

A psalm of David at his fleeing from the presence of Absalom, his son.[a]

Yahweh, how many are my enemies;
many are rising against me.
Many are saying about my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him from[b] God. Selah[c]
But[d] you, Yahweh, are a shield around me,
my glory and the one who lifts up my head.
With my voice I call to Yahweh
and he answers me from his holy hill.[e] Selah
I lay down and slept;
I woke up because Yahweh sustains me.
I am not afraid of the ten thousands of people
who all around have set themselves against me.
Rise up, O Yahweh; deliver me, O my God;
for you strike all my enemies on the cheek.
The teeth of the wicked you break.
To Yahweh belongs deliverance;
may your blessing be over your people. Selah

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 3:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 3:2 Or “in”
  3. Psalm 3:2 Meaning uncertain; probably a musical or liturgical direction
  4. Psalm 3:3 Or “And”
  5. Psalm 3:4 Literally “the hill of his holiness”