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Christian prayer

Psalm 57

Psalm 57 from the Bible, with the original text and its meaning.

  • 11 verses
  • About 1 minute to recite
  • From the Bible
  1. 1

    To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

  2. 2

    I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

  3. 3

    He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

  4. 4

    My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

  5. 5

    Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

  6. 6

    They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

  7. 7

    My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

  8. 8

    Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

  9. 9

    I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

  10. 10

    For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

  11. 11

    Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

The Hebrew original

1 לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ אַל־תַּ֭שְׁחֵת לְדָוִ֣ד מִכְתָּ֑ם בְּבָרְח֥וֹ מִפְּנֵי־שָׁ֝א֗וּל בַּמְּעָרָֽה׃

2 חָנֵּ֤נִי אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ חָנֵּ֗נִי כִּ֥י בְךָ֮ חָסָ֪יָה נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י וּבְצֵֽל־כְּנָפֶ֥יךָ אֶחְסֶ֑ה עַ֝֗ד יַעֲבֹ֥ר הַוּֽוֹת׃

3 אֶ֭קְרָא לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן לָ֝אֵ֗ל גֹּמֵ֥ר עָלָֽי׃

4 יִשְׁלַ֤ח מִשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ וְֽיוֹשִׁיעֵ֗נִי חֵרֵ֣ף שֹׁאֲפִ֣י סֶ֑לָה יִשְׁלַ֥ח אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים חַסְדּ֥וֹ וַאֲמִתּֽוֹ׃

5 נַפְשִׁ֤י ׀ בְּת֥וֹךְ לְבָאִם֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה לֹ֫הֲטִ֥ים בְּֽנֵי־אָדָ֗ם שִׁ֭נֵּיהֶם חֲנִ֣ית וְחִצִּ֑ים וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם חֶ֣רֶב חַדָּֽה׃

6 ר֣וּמָה עַל־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם אֱלֹהִ֑ים עַ֖ל כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃

7 רֶ֤שֶׁת ׀ הֵכִ֣ינוּ לִפְעָמַי֮ כָּפַ֪ף נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י כָּר֣וּ לְפָנַ֣י שִׁיחָ֑ה נָפְל֖וּ בְתוֹכָ֣הּ סֶֽלָה׃

8 נָ֘כ֤וֹן לִבִּ֣י אֱ֭לֹהִים נָכ֣וֹן לִבִּ֑י אָ֝שִׁ֗ירָה וַאֲזַמֵּֽרָה׃

9 ע֤וּרָה כְבוֹדִ֗י ע֭וּרָֽה הַנֵּ֥בֶל וְכִנּ֗וֹר אָעִ֥ירָה שָּֽׁחַר׃

10 אוֹדְךָ֖ בָעַמִּ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י אֲ֝זַמֶּרְךָ֗ בַּל־אֻמִּֽים׃

11 כִּֽי־גָדֹ֣ל עַד־שָׁמַ֣יִם חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וְֽעַד־שְׁחָקִ֥ים אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃

12 ר֣וּמָה עַל־שָׁמַ֣יִם אֱלֹהִ֑ים עַ֖ל כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃

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 57 when they feel threatened, anxious or in need of God's mercy. Its movement from distress to praise also makes it suitable for personal devotion and thanksgiving. Its call to awaken the dawn gives it a natural place in morning prayer.

  • Morning prayer
  • In danger
  • Seeking refuge
  • Thanksgiving

Where it comes from

Psalm 57 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible and was composed in Hebrew. Its heading associates it with David fleeing from Saul in a cave. The psalm combines a plea for refuge with trust in God and a call for God's glory to fill the earth.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 57

How many verses are in Psalm 57?

Psalm 57 has 11 verses.

What is Psalm 57 about?

It is a plea for God's mercy amid danger. The speaker seeks shelter in God and turns toward steadfast praise even while trouble remains.

Who wrote Psalm 57?

Its heading attributes it to David and connects it with his flight from Saul into a cave. This is its traditional attribution.

How long does Psalm 57 take to recite?

It takes about 1 minute to recite, depending on your pace and pauses.

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