Psalms 57–11
Psalm 57:1-11
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Psa.57.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- תשחת: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מכתם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בברחו: PREP+VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- מפני: PREP
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במערה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 56:1 (verbal): Also labeled a 'miktam of David'—shares the rare superscription category found in Ps 57.
- Psalm 58:1 (verbal): Begins with the phrase 'Do not destroy' (Heb. 'Al-tashchit') and is likewise titled a 'miktam of David', echoing the heading formula of Ps 57.
- Psalm 59:1 (verbal): Carries the same 'Do not destroy' rubric and 'miktam of David' designation; context likewise relates to Saul's pursuit of David.
- Psalm 142:1 (structural): Superscription reads 'When he was in the cave'—a parallel situational note to Ps 57's reference to David fleeing into a cave.
- 1 Samuel 24:1-22 (allusion): Narrates David's flight to a cave (Engedi) while fleeing Saul—the historical episode to which Ps 57's heading explicitly refers.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the choirmaster. Do not destroy. A Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
- To the choirmaster. Do not destroy. A Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
Psa.57.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- חנני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חנני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- חסיה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- ובצל: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כנפיך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- אחסה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- עד: PREP
- יעבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הוות: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 17:8 (verbal): The psalmist pleads, 'Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,' using the same 'shadow of your wings' refuge imagery and plea for divine protection.
- Psalm 91:4 (verbal): Declares that God 'will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge,' closely echoing the protective-wing metaphor and trust in God as shelter.
- Psalm 36:7 (verbal): Speaks of people taking refuge 'in the shadow of your wings,' repeating the motif of finding safety and steadfast love under God's wings.
- Ruth 2:12 (verbal): Boaz blesses Ruth, invoking the LORD 'under whose wings you have come to take refuge,' a direct application of the same protective-wing language to one who seeks asylum with God.
- Matthew 23:37 (allusion): Jesus laments wanting to gather Jerusalem's children 'as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,' an NT echo of the OT protection-under-wings motif applied to God's care and desire to shelter his people.
Alternative generated candidates
- Be gracious to me, O God; be gracious to me, for in you my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge until calamity passes.
- Be gracious to me, O God; be gracious to me, for in you my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge until the calamities pass.
Psa.57.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אקרא: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- לאלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עליון: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- לאל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Ps.57:1 (structural): Immediate context: both verses express addressing God Most High in a crisis and seeking refuge under God's protection (continuation of the same prayer).
- Ps.18:3 (thematic): Both speakers resolve to call on the LORD for deliverance from enemies—a vow to cry out to God for salvation (verbal/functional parallel).
- Genesis 14:20 (verbal): Uses the title 'God Most High' in connection with divine deliverance; links the motif of the Most High as protector and victor over foes.
- Ps.91:2 (thematic): Affirms trust in God as refuge and expresses a personal declaration regarding the LORD (’I will say/I will cry to God’), paralleling reliance on the Most High in danger.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will call upon God Most High— to God who accomplishes for me.
- I will cry to God Most High; to God who accomplishes for me.
Psa.57.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משמים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויושיעני: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,prsfx-1cs
- חרף: VERB,qal,perf,2,ms
- שאפי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss=1cs
- סלה: MISC
- ישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חסדו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ואמתו: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs+3ms
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 22:17-20 (verbal): Language and imagery parallel: God 'sent from on high' and rescued the psalmist—same motif of divine sending from heaven to deliver from danger.
- Psalm 18:16-19 (verbal): Close verbal and structural parallel (Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22 tradition): God reaches down from on high to save and deliver the speaker from enemies.
- Psalm 36:5 (thematic): Speaks of God's steadfast love and faithfulness extending from the heavens—parallels Psalm 57's assertion that God 'sends' his lovingkindness and truth.
- Psalm 85:10 (thematic): Proclaims that mercy (hesed) and truth (emet) meet together—echoes Psalm 57's coupling of God's lovingkindness and truth being given to the faithful.
- Psalm 86:15 (thematic): Describes the LORD as merciful, gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness—the same divine attributes (hesed and emet) invoked in Psalm 57.
Alternative generated candidates
- He will send from heaven and save me; God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
- He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who would swallow me up. Selah. God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
Psa.57.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- בתוך: PREP
- לבאם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,pr3mp
- אשכבה: VERB,qal,impf,1,,sg
- להטים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שניהם: PRON,3,m,pl
- חנית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וחצים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ולשונם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,pr3mp
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חדה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 140:3 (verbal): Speaks of enemies sharpening their tongues like a serpent and venom under their lips—parallel imagery of the tongue as a dangerous, weapon-like organ.
- Psalm 64:3-4 (verbal): Explicitly compares the tongue to a sword and speech to arrows aimed in secret, closely matching the verse’s ‘teeth…arrows’ and ‘tongue…sharp sword’ metaphors.
- Psalm 10:9 (thematic): Uses lion imagery for a lurking, predatory enemy (‘lies in wait like a lion’), echoing this psalm’s ‘among lions’ motif.
- Psalm 58:6-7 (thematic): Invokes breaking the teeth/fangs of the wicked and calls them ‘young lions,’ paralleling the depiction of enemies’ teeth as weapons.
- Jeremiah 9:8 (verbal): Describes the tongue as a ‘deadly arrow’ and a mouth of burning—a prophetic parallel to the depiction of the tongue and teeth as weapons of harm.
Alternative generated candidates
- My soul lies among lions; I lie down among men whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongue is a sharp sword.
- My soul is among lions; I lie among men aflame—children of men, both spear and arrow; and their tongue is a sharp sword.
Psa.57.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- רומה: VERB,qal,imp,2,ms
- על: PREP
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- כל: DET
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- כבודך: NOUN,m,sg,pronom-2-m
Parallels
- Psalm 108:5 (quotation): Nearly identical wording: a petition that God be exalted above the heavens and that his glory cover the earth — a direct verbal repeat of the sentiment and phraseology.
- Psalm 113:4 (verbal): Declares the LORD’s exaltation and places his glory above the heavens, echoing the motif of divine exaltation over the heavens and sovereign glory extending beyond the sky.
- Isaiah 6:3 (thematic): The seraphim’s cry and the prophet’s vision emphasize God’s holiness and the filling of the whole earth with his glory (’the whole earth is full of his glory’), thematically parallel to God’s glory reaching over all the earth.
- Habakkuk 2:14 (thematic): Speaks of the earth being filled with the knowledge/glory of the LORD (as the waters cover the sea), paralleling the theme that God’s glory should extend over and fill the whole earth.
Alternative generated candidates
- Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let your glory be over all the earth.
- Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let your glory be above all the earth.
Psa.57.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- רשת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הכינו: VERB,hiph,imp,2,m,pl
- לפעמי: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,1,sg
- כפף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- כרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לפני: PREP
- שיחה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נפלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בתוכה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,fs
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Psalm 108:1 (verbal): Nearly identical wording and refrain—'My heart is steadfast, O God... I will sing and give praise'—a direct verbal parallel to Ps 57:7.
- Psalm 34:1 (thematic): Both express a determined, continual commitment to praise ('I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth'), matching Ps 57:7's resolve to sing and praise.
- Psalm 30:12 (thematic): Like Ps 57 (a hymn of deliverance), Ps 30:12 links rescue and a vow of praise—'to sing praise to thee, and not be silent'—reflecting the same response of singing after deliverance.
- Psalm 71:22 (verbal): Declares dedicated singing with musical instruments ('I will praise thee with the harp... unto thee will I sing'), paralleling Ps 57:7's affirmation to sing and give praise.
Alternative generated candidates
- They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down. They have dug a pit before me— into it they have fallen. Selah.
- They set a net for my steps; my soul bowed down. They dug a pit before me—they themselves fell into it. Selah.
Psa.57.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נכון: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- לבי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- נכון: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- לבי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- אשירה: VERB,qal,impf,1,NA,sg
- ואזמרה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
Parallels
- Ps.108.1 (verbal): Almost identical wording: Psalm 108:1 repeats the declaration 'My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and give praise,' echoing the same vow to sing and the steadfast heart language of Psalm 57:8.
- Ps.57.9 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same psalm: the following verse continues the theme of singing and praise ('I will give thanks to you among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations'), reinforcing the vow of 57:8.
- Ps.138.1 (thematic): Similar language of wholehearted praise: Psalm 138:1 declares 'I will praise you with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praise to you,' matching the theme of a steadfast heart devoted to singing.
- Ps.149.1 (thematic): Shared motif of communal and resolute praise: Psalm 149:1 summons the faithful to 'sing to the LORD a new song' and praise him, reflecting the psalmist's determined commitment to sing in 57:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make melody.
- My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast; I will sing, I will sing praise.
Psa.57.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- עורה: VERB,qal,imper,2,m,sg
- כבודי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:1cs
- עורה: VERB,qal,imper,2,m,sg
- הנבל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וכנור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אעירה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- שחר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 108:2 (verbal): Nearly identical wording—Psalm 108 repeats the call to the instruments and the resolve to 'awake early/dawn' (verbal reuse of 57:9).
- Psalm 33:2 (verbal): Explicit mention of the psaltery and harp in a call to praise, matching the instrument imagery of 57:9.
- Psalm 150:3 (thematic): Commands praise with harp and lyre—connects the use of these instruments for worship to the summons in 57:9.
- Psalm 63:1 (thematic): Speaks of early-morning devotion ('early will I seek thee'), paralleling the theme of rising at dawn to praise in 57:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- Awake, my glory; awake, harp and lyre! I will rouse the dawn.
- Awake, my glory; awake, harp and lyre! I will rouse the dawn.
Psa.57.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אודך: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- בעמים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- אזמרך: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- בל: PART
- אמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 108:3 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel: the same vow to praise and sing among the nations/peoples; Psalm 108 reuses language found in Psalm 57.
- Psalm 18:49 (verbal): Very similar wording in a different psalm (often paired with Psalm 57 in the tradition): a vow to give thanks and sing among the nations.
- Romans 15:9 (quotation): Paul cites the OT promise that Gentiles will praise God (quoting Psalm 18/57 language) to show the inclusion of the nations in God’s praise.
- Psalm 67:3 (thematic): Corporate call for the peoples/nations to praise God—shares the universal, missionary theme of God’s praise among the nations.
- Psalm 117:1 (thematic): Universal summons—'Praise the LORD, all nations'—echoes Ps.57:10’s emphasis on all peoples joining in praise.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will praise you among the peoples, O Lord; I will sing to you among the nations.
- I will praise you among the peoples, O LORD; I will sing to you among the nations.
Psa.57.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- גדל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- שמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חסדך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- שחקים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אמתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 36:5 (verbal): Almost identical wording: God’s steadfast love reaches to the heavens and his faithfulness to the clouds — a direct verbal parallel.
- Psalm 108:5 (structural): Psalm 108 borrows material from Psalm 57; this verse is reflected in Psalm 108’s call to exalt God and acknowledge his lofty mercy/faithfulness.
- Psalm 103:11 (thematic): Uses the same heavens‑above‑earth motif to describe the greatness of God’s mercy, thematically close to mercy reaching to the heavens.
- Exodus 34:6 (thematic): Declares God’s character as merciful, gracious, and truthful — thematically related to the pairing of God’s steadfast love (chesed) and faithfulness (emet).
Alternative generated candidates
- For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
- For great is your steadfast love to the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
To the choirmaster. Do not destroy. A Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.
Be gracious to me, O God; be gracious to me, for in you my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge until the danger passes.
I will call to God Most High, to God who accomplishes for me.
He sends from heaven and saves me; he shames the one who would trample me. Selah. God sends forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
My soul is among lions; I lie down among men whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongue is a sharp sword.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let your glory be over all the earth.
They set a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down. They dug a pit before me—into it they have fallen themselves. Selah.
My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast. I will sing, I will make melody.
Awake, my glory; awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you among the peoples, O Lord; I will sing to you among the nations.
For great is your steadfast love to the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.