Psalm 57
A reminder: I’ve prepared these psalms for our liturgy, trying to be as accurate in my translation as possible. The alternation between plain text and bold is for responsive reading. I invite feedback on the translation!
For the director.
Do not destroy.
By David.
Michtam,
When he fled from before Saul in the cave.Be gracious to me, God! Be gracious to me,
Because in you my soul sought refuge,
And in the shadow of your wings I will seek refuge
Until calamities have passed by.I cry to God Most High,
To the Mighty One who avenges for me.
He will send from heaven and save me.
The one who pants reviles. Selah.
God will send his loyalty and his trustworthiness.My soul is in the midst of lions;
I will lie down among burning ones, sons of Adam.
Their teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue is a sharp sword.Be exalted over the heavens, God,
Over all the earth your glory!A net they have prepared for my footsteps;
My soul bows down.
They dug before me a pit.
They fell into the midst of it. Selah.Steadfast is my heart, God! Steadfast is my heart!
I will sing and I will psalm!Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awake the dawn.I will thank you among the nations, Lord;
I will psalm to you among the peoples,
Because great unto the heavens is your loyalty,
And unto the clouds your trustworthiness.Be exalted over the heavens, God,
Over all the earth your glory.
Some comments about this psalm:
(1) In line 8, the “one who pants” is the person who is pursuing David, panting after him, seeking to devour him. See also Psalm 56:2 where this same term is used.
(2) In line 11, the “burning ones” may be people who are burning with anger, raging people, who are also, of course, the lions of line 10.
(3) In line 21, I have used the word “psalm” because the word here is the root verb of the noun “psalm” and refers not only to singing but also to the playing of instruments. David is declaring that he will sing and play psalms in praise to God. The same thing is true in line 26.