Corpus Psalterium · Vol. III
Psalm LVII (57)
Cantillated — Refrain Praise
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 57 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ אַל־תַּ֭שְׁחֵת לְדָוִ֣ד מִכְתָּ֑ם בְּבָרְח֥וֹ מִפְּנֵי־שָׁ֝א֗וּל בַּמְּעָרָֽה׃
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.
חָנֵּ֤נִי אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ חָנֵּ֗נִי כִּ֥י בְךָ֮ חָסָ֪יָה נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י וּבְצֵֽל־כְּנָפֶ֥יךָ אֶחְסֶ֑ה עַ֝֗ד יַעֲבֹ֥ר הַוּֽוֹת׃
I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me.
אֶ֭קְרָא לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן לָ֝אֵ֗ל גֹּמֵ֥ר עָלָֽי׃
He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.
יִשְׁלַ֤ח מִשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ וְֽיוֹשִׁיעֵ֗נִי חֵרֵ֣ף שֹׁאֲפִ֣י סֶ֑לָה יִשְׁלַ֥ח אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים חַסְדּ֥וֹ וַאֲמִתּֽוֹ׃
My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
נַפְשִׁ֤י ׀ בְּת֥וֹךְ לְבָאִם֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה לֹ֫הֲטִ֥ים בְּֽנֵי־אָדָ֗ם שִׁ֭נֵּיהֶם חֲנִ֣ית וְחִצִּ֑ים וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם חֶ֣רֶב חַדָּֽה׃
Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be above all the earth!
ר֣וּמָה עַל־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם אֱלֹהִ֑ים עַ֖ל כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃
They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the middle of it themselves. Selah.
רֶ֤שֶׁת ׀ הֵכִ֣ינוּ לִפְעָמַי֮ כָּפַ֪ף נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י כָּר֣וּ לְפָנַ֣י שִׁיחָ֑ה נָפְל֖וּ בְתוֹכָ֣הּ סֶֽלָה׃
My heart is steadfast, God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.
נָ֘כ֤וֹן לִבִּ֣י אֱ֭לֹהִים נָכ֣וֹן לִבִּ֑י אָ֝שִׁ֗ירָה וַאֲזַמֵּֽרָה׃
Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp! I will wake up the dawn.
ע֤וּרָה כְבוֹדִ֗י ע֭וּרָֽה הַנֵּ֥בֶל וְכִנּ֗וֹר אָעִ֥ירָה שָּֽׁחַר׃
I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations.
אוֹדְךָ֖ בָעַמִּ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י אֲ֝זַמֶּרְךָ֗ בַּל־אֻמִּֽים׃
For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies.
כִּֽי־גָדֹ֣ל עַד־שָׁמַ֣יִם חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וְֽעַד־שְׁחָקִ֥ים אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃
Be exalted, God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.
ר֣וּמָה עַל־שָׁמַ֣יִם אֱלֹהִ֑ים עַ֖ל כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
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 destruction
passes by
I cry out
to God Most High
To God
who completes His work for me
He sends from heaven
He saves me
He reproaches
the one who tramples me
God sends forth
His steadfast love
and His faithfulness
Be exalted
above the heavens, O God
Let Your glory
be over all the earth
My soul is
among lions
I lie down
among burning men
Their teeth
are spears and arrows
Their tongue
a sharp sword
They set a net
for my steps
My soul
was bowed down
They dug a pit
before me
They fell
into it themselves
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 give thanks to You
among the peoples
I will sing to You
among the nations
For Your steadfast love
is great to the heavens
Your faithfulness
to the clouds
Be exalted
above the heavens, O God
Let Your glory
be over all the earth
Be exalted
above the heavens
Let Your glory
be over all the earth
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.