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Psalm 57
The Voice

Psalm 57

For the worship leader. A prayer[a] of David to the tune “Do Not Destroy,”[b] when he hid from Saul in a cave.

This individual lament refers back to those perilous times when David fled from Saul and hid in caves (1 Samuel 22; 24). David found real security not in the hidden recesses of the caves but in the shadow of God’s wings.

1 Mercy. May Your mercy come to me, O God,
    for my soul is safe within You, the guardian of my life.
I will seek protection in the shade of Your wings
    until the destruction has passed.
2 I cry out to God, the Most High,
    to God who always does what is good for me.
3 Out of heaven my rescue comes.
    He dispatches His mercy and truth
And goes after whoever tries to run over me.

[pause][c]

4 I am surrounded by lions;
    I lie in a den of ravenous beasts.
Those around me have spears and arrows for teeth,
    a sharpened blade for a tongue.

5 O God, be lifted up above the heavens;
    may Your glory cover the earth.

6 Yet my foes cast a net to catch my feet and bring me to my knees.
    I am weary from all of this.
They dug a pit to snare me
    but fell into their own trap.

[pause]

7 My heart is ready, O God;
    my heart is ready,
And I will sing!
    Yes, I will sing praise!
8 Wake up, my glory!
    Wake up, harp and lyre;
    I will stir the sleepy dawn with praise!
9 I will offer You my thanks, O Lord, before the nations of the world;
    I will sing of Your greatness no matter where I am.
10 For Your amazing mercy ascends far into the heavens;
    Your truth rises above the clouds.
11 O God, be lifted up above the heavens;
    may Your glory cover the earth.

Footnotes

  1. 57:title Hebrew, miktam, meaning is uncertain.
  2. 57:title Hebrew, al-tashheth, meaning is uncertain.
  3. 57:3 Literally, selah, likely a musical direction from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up”
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Psalm 57
New International Version

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)

1 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)

2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(F)
3 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)

4 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)

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

6 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)

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

9 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.
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Psalm 57
GOD’S WORD Translation

For the choir director; al tashcheth; [a] a miktam by David when he fled from Saul into the cave.

57 Have pity on me, O God. Have pity on me,
because my soul takes refuge in you.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until destructive storms pass by.
2 I call to God Most High,
to the God who does everything for me.
3 He sends his help from heaven and saves me.
He disgraces the one who is harassing me. Selah
God sends his mercy and his truth!
4 My soul is surrounded by lions.
I must lie down with man-eating lions.
Their teeth are spears and arrows.
Their tongues are sharp swords.
5 May you be honored above the heavens, O God.
Let your glory extend over the whole earth.

6 ⌞My enemies⌟ spread out a net to catch me.
(My soul is bowed down.)
They dug a pit to trap me,
but then they fell into it. Selah
7 My heart is confident, O God.
My heart is confident.
I want to sing and make music.[b]
8 Wake up, my soul! [c]
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I want to wake up at dawn.
9 I want to give thanks to you among the people, O Lord.
I want to make music to praise you among the nations
10 because your mercy is as high as the heavens.
Your truth reaches the skies.

11 May you be honored above the heavens, O God.
Let your glory extend over the whole earth.

Footnotes

  1. 57:0 Unknown musical term.
  2. 57:7 Verses 7–11 are virtually identical in wording to Psalm 108:1–5.
  3. 57:8 Or “my glory.”
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Psalm 56
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