Psalms
Chapter 57
1
1 2 For the director. Do not destroy. A miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into a cave.
2
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. In you I seek shelter. In the shadow of your wings 3 I seek shelter till harm pass by.
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 love. Selah
5
I must lie down in the midst of lions hungry for human prey. Their teeth are spears and arrows; their tongue, a sharpened sword.
6
Show yourself over the heavens, God; may your glory appear above all the earth.
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! Selah
8
My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and chant praise.
9
4 Awake, my soul; awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn.
10
I will praise you among the peoples, Lord; I will chant your praise among the nations.
11
For your love towers to the heavens; your faithfulness, to the skies.
12
Show yourself over the heavens, God; may your glory appear above all the earth.
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Footnotes

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

2 [1] Do not destroy: probably the title of the melody to which the psalm was to be sung.

3 [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 Kings 6:23-28).

4 [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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