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Psalm 57
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Psalm 57[a]

Confident Prayer for Deliverance

1 For the director. Do not destroy.[b] A miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into a cave.(A)

I

2 Have mercy on me, God,
    have mercy on me.
    In you I seek refuge.
In the shadow of your wings[c] 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)

II

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!(F)
Selah
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.[d](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

  1. 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).
  2. 57:1 Do not destroy: probably the title of the melody to which the Psalm was to be sung.
  3. 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).
  4. 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.
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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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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

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