Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors.

For the music director; set to [a]Al-tashheth. A [b]Mikhtam of David, [c]when he fled from Saul in the cave.

57 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
For my soul (A)takes refuge in You;
And in the (B)shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction (C)passes by.
I will cry to God Most High,
To God who (D)accomplishes all things for me.
He will (E)send from heaven and save me;
He rebukes the one who [d](F)tramples upon me. Selah
God will send His [e](G)favor and His truth.

My soul is among (H)lions;
I must lie among those who devour,
Among sons of mankind whose (I)teeth are spears and arrows,
And their (J)tongue is a sharp sword.
(K)Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.
They have prepared a (L)net for my steps;
My soul is (M)bowed down;
They (N)dug a pit before me;
They themselves have (O)fallen into the midst of it. Selah

(P)My (Q)heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
Awake, (R)my glory!
Awake, (S)harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
(T)I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the [f]nations.
10 For Your (U)goodness is great to the heavens
And Your [g]truth to the clouds.
11 (V)Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 57 Title Lit Do Not Destroy
  2. Psalm 57 Title Possibly, Epigrammatic Poem; or Atonement Psalm
  3. Psalm 57 Title 1 Sam 22:1; 24:3
  4. Psalm 57:3 Or snaps at
  5. Psalm 57:3 Or faithfulness
  6. Psalm 57:9 Lit peoples
  7. Psalm 57:10 Or faithfulness

Psalm 57

Praise and Assurance under Persecution

To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

Be merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    until the destroying storms pass by.(A)
I cry to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.(B)
He will send from heaven and save me;
    he will put to shame those who trample on me. Selah
God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.(C)

I lie down among lions
    that greedily devour[a] human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
    their tongues sharp swords.(D)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
    Let your glory be over all the earth.(E)

They set a net for my steps;
    my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
    but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah(F)
My heart is steadfast, O God;
    my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.(G)
    Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn.(H)
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.(I)
10 For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
    your faithfulness extends to the clouds.(J)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
    Let your glory be over all the earth.(K)

Footnotes

  1. 57.4 Cn: Heb are aflame for