> [[psalm-56|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-58|Next →]] --- # Psalm 57 ## Confident Prayer for Deliverance 1 For the director. Do not destroy. A *miktam* of David, when he fled from Saul into a cave. ^psalm-57-1 ### I 2 Have mercy on me, God, ^psalm-57-2 have mercy on me. In you I seek refuge. In the shadow of your wings I seek refuge till harm pass by. 3 I call to God Most High, ^psalm-57-3 to God who provides for me. 4 May God send help from heaven to save me, ^psalm-57-4 shame those who trample upon me. May God send fidelity and mercy. *Selah* 5 I must lie down in the midst of lions ^psalm-57-5 hungry for human prey. Their teeth are spears and arrows; their tongue, a sharpened sword. 6 Be exalted over the heavens, God; ^psalm-57-6 may your glory appear above all the earth. ### II 7 They have set a trap for my feet; ^psalm-57-7 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, ^psalm-57-8 my heart is steadfast. I will sing and chant praise. 9 Awake, my soul; ^psalm-57-9 awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn. 10 I will praise you among the peoples, Lord; ^psalm-57-10 I will chant your praise among the nations. 11 For your mercy towers to the heavens; ^psalm-57-11 your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 12 Exalt yourself over the heavens, God; ^psalm-57-12 may your glory appear above all the earth. \* (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. a. (57:1) [1 Sm 22:1]. b. (57:2) ([[psalm-17|Ps 17]]:8]; [36:8]. c. (57:5) ([[psalm-17|Ps 17]]:11] – [12]; [22:22]; [58:7]. d. (57:5) ([[psalm-11|Ps 11]]:2]; [64:4]. e. (57:6) [Ps 72:19]; [Nm 14:21]. f. (57:7) ([[psalm-07|Ps 7]]:15]; [9:16] – [17]; [140:5] – [6]. g. (57:8) [Ps 108:2]. h. (57:9) [Jb 38:12]. i. (57:10) ([[psalm-09|Ps 9]]:12]; [18:50]. j. (57:11) [Ps 36:6]; [71:19]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[psalm-56|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-58|Next →]]