לַמְנַצֵּחַ אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת לְדָוִד מִכְתָּם בְּבָרְחוֹ מִפְּנֵי־שָׁאוּל בַּמְּעָרָה׃   57:1

Psal. 57:1    A lyric poem of David's for the leader al-tashheth, on his fleeing from Saul into the cave:

This verse probably alludes to the episode described in 1Sam. 22.  The term al-tashheth, which literally means do not destroy, is thought to be the name of the melody.  The same term appears in three other superscriptions in the book of Psalms.  This psalm seems to complement the preceding one, possibly even being an extension of it.

                                          [Return to Psal. 58:1]            [Return to Psal. 59:1]            [Return to Psal. 75:1]

חָנֵּנִי אֱלֹהִים חָנֵּנִי כִּי בְךָ חָסָיָה נַפְשִׁי וּבְצֵל־כְּנָפֶיךָ אֶחְסֶה עַד יַעֲבֹר הַוּוֹת׃   57:2

Psal. 57:2    Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,

                                for in You my soul seeks refuge,

                       and in the shadow of Your wings I will seek protection

                                until any possibility of calamities will have passed.

אֶקְרָא לֵאלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן לָאֵל גֹּמֵר עָלָי׃   57:3

Psal. 57:3    I will call to God, Most High,

                                for God's bringing an end on my behalf.

Notice this this verse contains the word עֶלְיוֹן consistently translated as Most High.  See Psal. 56:3.

יִשְׁלַח מִשָּׁמַיִם וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנִי חֵרֵף שֹׁאֲפִי סֶלָה יִשְׁלַח אֱלֹהִים חַסְדּוֹ וַאֲמִתּוֹ׃   57:4

Psal. 57:4    May He extend from heaven and save me;

                                the one thirsting for my blood taunts.            Selah.

                       God will send forth His mercy and His truth.

נַפְשִׁי בְּתוֹךְ לְבָאִם אֶשְׁכְּבָה לֹהֲטִים בְּנֵי־אָדָם שִׁנֵּיהֶם חֲנִית וְחִצִּים וּלְשׁוֹנָם חֶרֶב חַדָּה׃   57:5

Psal. 57:5    My soul is in the midst of enflamed lions;

                                I must relax;

                       sons of humankind, their teeth are a spear and arrows,

                                and their tongue a sharp sword.

רוּמָה עַל־הַשָּׁמַיִם אֱלֹהִים עַל כָּל־הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ׃   57:6

Psal. 57:6    O God, lift up Your glory over the heavens,

                                over all the earth.

רֶשֶׁת הֵכִינוּ לִפְעָמַי כָּפַף נַפְשִׁי כָּרוּ לְפָנַי שִׁיחָה נָפְלוּ בְתוֹכָהּ סֶלָה׃   57:7

Psal. 57:7    They had prepared a net for my step;

                                it weighed down my soul.

                       They dug a pit before me;

                                they themselves had fallen into its midst.            Selah.

נָכוֹן לִבִּי אֱלֹהִים נָכוֹן לִבִּי אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמֵּרָה׃   57:8

Psal. 57:8    My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast;

                                Let me sing, and I will sing praise.

עוּרָה כְבוֹדִי עוּרָה הַנֵּבֶל וְכִנּוֹר אָעִירָה שָּׁחַר׃   57:9

Psal. 57:9    Awaken, my dignity!

                                Stir up the lute and harp;

                        I will rouse the dawn.

אוֹדְךָ בָעַמִּים אֲדֹנָי אֲזַמֶּרְךָ בַּל־אֻמִּים׃   57:10

Psal. 57:10    I will give thanks to You among the peoples, my Master,

                                 I will sing praise to You among the nations.

כִּי־גָדֹל עַד־שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ וְעַד־שְׁחָקִים אֲמִתֶּךָ׃   57:11

Psal. 57:11    For Your loving kindness is great as the heavens,

                                and Your faithfulness up to the clouds.

רוּמָה עַל־שָׁמַיִם אֱלֹהִים עַל כָּל־הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ׃   57:12

Psal. 57:12   Lift up Your glory over the heavens, O God,

                                 over all the earth.

 

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