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A Prayer in Troubled Times

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam of David when he escaped from Saul in the cave.

57 Be merciful to me, God; be merciful to me
    because I come to you for protection.
Let me hide under the shadow of your wings
    until the trouble has passed.

I cry out to God Most High,
    to the God who does everything for me.
He sends help from heaven and saves me.
    He punishes those who chase me. Selah
    God sends me his love and truth.

Enemies, like lions, are all around me;
    I must lie down among them.
Their teeth are like spears and arrows,
    their tongues as sharp as swords.

God is supreme over the skies;
    his majesty covers the earth.

They set a trap for me.
    I am very worried.
They dug a pit in my path,
    but they fell into it themselves. Selah

My heart is steady, God; my heart is steady.
    I will sing and praise you.
Wake up, my soul.
    Wake up, harp and lyre!
    I will wake up the dawn.
Lord, I will praise you among the nations;
    I will sing songs of praise about you to all the nations.
10 Your great love reaches to the skies,
    your truth to the clouds.
11 God, you are supreme above the skies.
    Let your glory be over all the earth.

Be Exalted Over All the Earth

Psalm 57

For the music director, “Do Not Destroy,” a Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,
for in You my soul takes refuge.
In the shadow of Your wings I take refuge,
until destruction passes by.
I will cry out to El Elyon,
to God who accomplishes it for me.
He will send from heaven and save me.
He rebukes the one trampling on me. Selah
God is sending His mercy and His truth.
My soul is in the midst of lions.
I lie among those breathing fire—
    sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongue is a sharp sword.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let Your glory be over all the earth!

They spread a net for my steps,
my soul is bowed down.
They have dug a pit before me—
they fell into it themselves. Selah
My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast.
I will sing, yes, I will make music.
Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
10 I will praise You, my Lord, among the peoples.
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
11 For Your lovingkindness is great up to the heavens,
and Your truth to the skies.
12 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let Your glory be over all the earth!

57 1-3 Be good to me, God—and now!
    I’ve run to you for dear life.
I’m hiding out under your wings
    until the hurricane blows over.
I call out to High God,
    the God who holds me together.
He sends orders from heaven and saves me,
    he humiliates those who kick me around.
God delivers generous love,
    he makes good on his word.

I find myself in a pride of lions
    who are wild for a taste of human flesh;
Their teeth are lances and arrows,
    their tongues are sharp daggers.

Soar high in the skies, O God!
    Cover the whole earth with your glory!

They booby-trapped my path;
    I thought I was dead and done for.
They dug a mantrap to catch me,
    and fell in headlong themselves.

7-8 I’m ready, God, so ready,
    ready from head to toe,
Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune:
    “Wake up, soul!
Wake up, harp! wake up, lute!
    Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!”

9-10 I’m thanking you, God, out loud in the streets,
    singing your praises in town and country.
The deeper your love, the higher it goes;
    every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.

11 Soar high in the skies, O God!
    Cover the whole earth with your glory!