USB ~ Psalms 57

Confident Prayer for Deliverance

1 For the director. Do not destroy.† A miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into a cave. a

2 Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. In you I seek refuge. In the shadow of your wings† I seek refuge till harm pass by. b

3 I call to God Most High, to God who provides for me.

4 May God send help from heaven to save me, shame those who trample upon me. May God send fidelity and mercy. Selah

5 I must lie down in the midst of lions hungry for human prey. c Their teeth are spears and arrows; their tongue, a sharpened sword. d

6 Be exalted over the heavens, God; may your glory appear above all the earth. e

7 They have set a trap for my feet; my soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me. May they fall into it themselves! fSelah*

8 My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and chant praise. g

9 Awake, my soul; awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn.† h

10 I will praise you among the peoples, Lord; I will chant your praise among the nations. i

11 For your mercy towers to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. j

12 Exalt yourself over the heavens, God; may your glory appear above all the earth.

Footnotes

†. Psalm 57 Each of the two equal strophes contains a prayer for rescue from enemies, accompanied by joyful trust in God (Ps 57:2-5, 7-11). The refrain prays that God be manifested as saving (Ps 57:6, 12). Ps 108 is nearly identical to part of this Psalm (cf. Ps 57:8-11, Ps 108:2-6).

†. 57:1 Do not destroy: probably the title of the melody to which the Psalm was to be sung.

†. 57:2 The shadow of your wings: probably refers to the wings of the cherubim (powerful winged animals) whose wings spread over the ark in the inner chamber of the Temple (1 Kgs 6:23-28).

†. 57:9 I will wake the dawn: by a bold figure the psalmist imagines the sound of music and singing will waken a new day.

57:1 1 Sm 22:1.
57:2 Ps 17:8; 36:8.
57:5 Ps 17:11-12; 22:22; 58:7.
57:5 Ps 11:2; 64:4.
57:6 Ps 72:19; Nm 14:21.
57:7 Ps 7:15; 9:16-17; 140:5-6.
57:8 Ps 108:2.
57:9 Jb 38:12.
57:10 Ps 9:12; 18:50.
57:11 Ps 36:6; 71:19.