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Christian prayer

Psalm 108

Psalm 108 in its original language and with its meaning, a biblical prayer of praise and trust in God.

  • 13 verses
  • Under a minute to recite
  • From the Bible
  1. 1

    A Song or Psalm of David. O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.

  2. 2

    Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

  3. 3

    I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

  4. 4

    For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.

  5. 5

    Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;

  6. 6

    That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.

  7. 7

    God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

  8. 8

    Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;

  9. 9

    Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

  10. 10

    Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

  11. 11

    Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?

  12. 12

    Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

  13. 13

    Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

The Hebrew original

1 שִׁ֖יר מִזְמ֣וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

2 נָכ֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה אַף־כְּבוֹדִֽי׃

3 ע֭וּרָֽה הַנֵּ֥בֶל וְכִנּ֗וֹר אָעִ֥ירָה שָּֽׁחַר׃

4 אוֹדְךָ֖ בָעַמִּ֥ים ׀ יְהוָ֑ה וַ֝אֲזַמֶּרְךָ֗ בַּל־אֻמִּֽים׃

5 כִּֽי־גָד֣וֹל מֵֽעַל־שָׁמַ֣יִם חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וְֽעַד־שְׁחָקִ֥ים אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃

6 ר֣וּמָה עַל־שָׁמַ֣יִם אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַ֖ל כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃

7 לְ֭מַעַן יֵחָלְצ֣וּן יְדִידֶ֑יךָ הוֹשִׁ֖יעָה יְמִֽינְךָ֣ וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃

8 אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ דִּבֶּ֥ר בְּקָדְשׁ֗וֹ אֶעְלֹ֥זָה אֲחַלְּקָ֥ה שְׁכֶ֑ם וְעֵ֖מֶק סֻכּ֣וֹת אֲמַדֵּֽד׃

9 לִ֤י גִלְעָ֨ד ׀ לִ֤י מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה וְ֭אֶפְרַיִם מָע֣וֹז רֹאשִׁ֑י יְ֝הוּדָ֗ה מְחֹקְקִֽי׃

10 מוֹאָ֤ב ׀ סִ֬יר רַחְצִ֗י עַל־אֱ֭דוֹם אַשְׁלִ֣יךְ נַעֲלִ֑י עֲלֵֽי־פְ֝לֶ֗שֶׁת אֶתְרוֹעָֽע׃

11 מִ֣י יֹ֭בִלֵנִי עִ֣יר מִבְצָ֑ר מִ֖י נָחַ֣נִי עַד־אֱדֽוֹם׃

12 הֲלֹֽא־אֱלֹהִ֥ים זְנַחְתָּ֑נוּ וְֽלֹא־תֵצֵ֥א אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים בְּצִבְאֹתֵֽינוּ׃

13 הָֽבָה־לָּ֣נוּ עֶזְרָ֣ת מִצָּ֑ר וְ֝שָׁ֗וְא תְּשׁוּעַ֥ת אָדָֽם׃

14 בֵּֽאלֹהִ֥ים נַעֲשֶׂה־חָ֑יִל וְ֝ה֗וּא יָב֥וּס צָרֵֽינוּ׃

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 108 in morning prayer, echoing its call to awaken the dawn with praise. It is also used in personal devotion and communal worship when giving thanks or seeking God's help in difficulty. In the Christian tradition, its closing words express trust in God rather than reliance on human strength alone.

  • Morning prayer
  • Giving thanks
  • Seeking help
  • Communal worship

Where it comes from

Psalm 108 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible, and its heading attributes it to David. It brings together passages also found in other psalms, joining a song of praise with a plea for help against enemies. Its original language is Hebrew.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 108

How many verses are in Psalm 108?

Psalm 108 has 13 verses.

What is Psalm 108 about?

It begins with steadfast praise and thanksgiving, then turns to a request for God's help against enemies. It holds praise and dependence on God together.

Why is Psalm 108 used in morning prayer?

Its opening includes a call to awaken the dawn with music and praise. Many Christians find this especially fitting for prayer at the start of the day.

Who wrote Psalm 108?

The psalm's biblical heading attributes it to David. Its wording also draws together passages found elsewhere in the Book of Psalms.

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