Psalm 57

Praise for God’s Protection

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. 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.[a](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 among devouring lions—
people whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose 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!
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. 57:2 Or who avenges me

Prayer for Safety from Enemies(A)

To the Chief Musician. Set to [a]“Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David (B)when he fled from Saul into the cave.

57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
(C)And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
(D)Until these calamities have passed by.

I will cry out to God Most High,
To God (E)who performs all things for me.
(F)He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who [b]would swallow me up. Selah
God (G)shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men
Who are set on fire,
(H)Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
(I)Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

(J)They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They have dug a pit before me;
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

(K)My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
Awake, (L)my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.

(M)I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the [c]nations.
10 (N)For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.

11 (O)Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 57:1 Heb. Al Tashcheth
  2. Psalm 57:3 snaps at or hounds me, or crushes me
  3. Psalm 57:9 Gentiles