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Prayer for Rescue from Enemies

For the music director, according to Do Not Destroy.

Of David. A miktam.

When he fled from Saul into the cave.[a]

57 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,
because in you my soul takes refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge
until destruction passes by.
I will call to God Most High,
to God who accomplishes things concerning me.
He will send from heaven and save me;
he will reproach the one who tramples me. Selah
God will send his loyal love and his faithfulness.
My soul is among lions.
I lie down among those who devour—
the children[b] of humankind whose teeth are spears and arrows
and whose tongues are sharp swords.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God.
Let your glory be above all the earth.
They have set a net for my steps;
my soul is bowed down.
They have dug a pit before me;
they have fallen into the midst of it. Selah
My heart is steadfast, O God;
My heart is steadfast.
I will sing and give praise.
Awake, my glory;
Awake, harp and lyre.
I will awake the dawn.[c]
I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord;
I will give you praise among the nations.
10 Because your loyal love is high to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God.
Let your glory be above all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 57:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 57:4 Or “sons”
  3. Psalm 57:8 Or “at dawn”

Psalm 57

Praise for God’s Protection

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.”[a] A Davidic Miktam. When he fled before Saul into the cave.(A)

Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
for I take refuge in You.
I will seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until danger passes.(B)
I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.[b](C)
He reaches down from heaven and saves me,
challenging the one who tramples me.(D)Selah
God sends His faithful love and truth.(E)
I am surrounded by lions;
I lie down with those who devour men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows;
their tongues are sharp swords.(F)
God, be exalted above the heavens;
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(G)
They prepared a net for my steps;
I was despondent.
They dug a pit ahead of me,
but they fell into it!(H)Selah

My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.
I will sing; I will sing praises.(I)
Wake up, my soul![c]
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.(J)
I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.(K)
10 For Your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.(L)
11 God, be exalted above the heavens;(M)
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(N)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 57:1 Possibly a tune
  2. Psalm 57:2 Or who avenges me
  3. Psalm 57:8 Lit glory

Psalm 57[a](A)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(B)

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.(C)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(D)
    until the disaster has passed.(E)

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(F)
He sends from heaven and saves me,(G)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[c](H)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(I)

I am in the midst of lions;(J)
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.(K)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.(L)

They spread a net for my feet(M)
    I was bowed down(N) in distress.
They dug a pit(O) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.(P)

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;(Q)
    I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!(R)
    I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(S)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(T)
    let your glory be over all the earth.(U)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
  2. Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.