Psalms 57:1
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.
Psalms 57:1 in other translations
| BSB | For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed. |
|---|---|
| WEB | For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed. |
| ASV | For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; For my soul taketh refuge in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, Until these calamities be overpast. |
| YLT | To the Overseer. --‘Destroy not.' --A secret treasure of David, in his fleeing from the face of Saul into a cave. Favour me, O God, favour me, For in Thee is my soul trusting, And in the shadow of Thy wings I trust, Until the calamities pass over. |
| DARBY | To the chief Musician. 'Destroy not.' Of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be gracious unto me, OGod, be gracious unto me; for my soul taketh refuge in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings do I take refuge, until the calamities be overpast. |
| BBE | Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for the hope of my soul is in you: I will keep myself safely under the shade of your wings, till these troubles are past. |
| Webster | To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yes, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities are overpast. |
What does Psalms 57:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Psa 57:1-11. Altaschith--or, "Destroy not." This is perhaps an enigmatical allusion to the critical circumstances connected with the history, for which compare 1Sa 22:1; 26:1-3. In Moses' prayer (De 9:26) it is a prominent petition deprecating God's anger against the people. This explanation suits the fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth also. Asaph uses it for the seventy-fifth, in the scope of which there is allusion to some emergency. Michtam--(See on Psa 16:1, title). To an earnest cry for divine aid, the Psalmist adds, as often, the language of praise, in the assured hope of a favorable hearing.
1. my soul--or self, or life, which is threatened. shadow of thy wings--(Psa 17:8; 36:7). calamities--literally, "mischiefs" (Psa 52:2; 55:10).Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
David cries to God for mercy, with the strongest confidence of being heard, Psa 57:1-3; he describes his enemies as lions, Psa 57:4; thanks God for his deliverance, Psa 57:5; and purposes to publish the praises of the Lord among his people, Psa 57:6-11. The title is, To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, (destroy not), a golden Psalms of David, (or one to be engraven), where he fed from Saul in the cave. It is very likely that this Psalm was made to commemorate his escape from Saul in the cave of En-gedi, where Saul had entered without knowing that David was there, and David cut off the skirt of his garment. And it is not improbable that, when he found that Saul was providentially delivered into his hand, he might have formed the hasty resolution to take away his life, as his companions counselled him to do; and in that moment the Divine monition came, אל תשצת al tascheth! Destroy not! lift not up thy hand against the Lord's anointed! Instead, therefore, of taking away his life, he contented himself with taking away his skirt, to show him that he had been in his power. When, afterwards, he composed the Psalm, he gave it for title the words which he received as a Divine warning. See the history 1 Samuel 24 (note): See also my note upon the fourth verse of that chapter, 1Sam 24:4 (note). Verse 1 Be merciful unto me - To show David's deep earnestness, he repeats this twice; he was in great danger, surrounded by implacable enemies, and he knew that God alone could deliver him. My soul trusteth in thee - I put my life into thy hand; and my immortal spirit knows no other portion than thyself. In the shadow of thy wings - A metaphor taken from the brood of a hen taking shelter under her wings when they see a bird of prey; and there they continue to hide themselves till their evemy disappears. In a storm, or tempest of rain, the mother covers them with her wings to afford them shelter and defense. This the psalmist has particularly in view, as the following words show: "Until these calamities be overpast."Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 57:1-6
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 57:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 57:1
- Psalms 91:4
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
- Psalms 36:7
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
- Psalms 17:7-8
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
- Psalms 9:10
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
- Psalms 63:7
Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
- Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
- Psalms 61:4
I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
- Psalms 69:13-16
But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
- James 5:10-11
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
- Ruth 2:12
The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
- Psalms 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
- Isaiah 26:20
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7 He encourages himself to praise God.
A.M. 2943. B.C. 1061. (Title.) {Al-tas-chith.} or, destroynot. A golden Psalm. This Psalm is supposed to have been called {al tashcheth,} or "destroy not," because David thus addressed one of his followers when about to kill Saul in the cave; and {michtam,} or "golden," because written, or worthy to be written, in gold.
58:1; 59:1; *titles
when.
142:1; *title
1Sa 22:1; 24:3,8
be.
56:1; 69:13-16; 119:76,77
soul.
9:10; 13:5; 125:1; Isa 50:10
shadow.
17:7,8; 36:7; 61:4; 63:7; 91:1,4,9; Ru 2:12; Lu 13:34
until.
Isa 10:25; 26:20; Mt 24:22; Joh 16:20; Jas 5:10,11; Re 7:14; 21:4
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 57:1
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.
- Psalms 57:2
I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
Psalms 57:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Al Músico principal: sobre No destruyas: Michtam de David, cuando huyó de delante de Saúl á la cueva. TEN misericordia de mí, oh Dios, ten misericordia de mí; porque en ti ha confiado mi alma, y en la sombra de tus alas me ampararé, hasta que pasen los quebrantos. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Au chef de musique. Al-Tashkheth. De David. Mictam; quand il fuyait devant Saül, dans la caverne. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Sei mir gnädig, o Gott, sei mir gnädig! denn zu dir nimmt Zuflucht meine Seele, und ich will Zuflucht nehmen zu dem Schatten deiner Flügel, bis vorübergezogen das Verderben. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | In finem, ne disperdas. David in tituli inscriptionem. |