Psalms 57

1To 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.

1Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title.

2I call to God Most High, To God <FI>who<Fi> is perfecting for me.

2If in very deed ye speak justice: judge right things, ye sons of men.

3He sendeth from the heaven, and saveth me, He reproached--who is panting after me. Selah. God sendeth forth His kindness and His truth.

3For in your heart you work iniquity: your hands forge injustice in the earth.

4My soul <FI>is<Fi> in the midst of lions, I lie down <FI>among<Fi> flames--sons of men, Their teeth <FI>are<Fi> a spear and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

4The wicked are alienated from the womb; they have gone astray from the womb: they have spoken false things.

5Be Thou exalted above the heavens, O God, Above all the earth Thine honour.

5Their madness is according to the likeness of a serpent: like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ears:

6A net they have prepared for my steps, Bowed down hath my soul, They have digged before me a pit, They have fallen into its midst. Selah.

6Which will not hear the voice of the charmers; nor of the wizard that charmeth wisely.

7Prepared is my heart, O God, Prepared is my heart, I sing and praise.

7God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord shall break the grinders of the lions.

8Awake, mine honour, awake, psaltery and harp, I awake the morning dawn.

8They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent his bow till they be weakened.

9I thank Thee among the peoples, O Lord, I praise Thee among the nations.

9Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun.

10For great unto the heavens <FI>is<Fi> Thy kindness, And unto the clouds Thy truth.

10Before your thorns could know the brier; he swalloweth them up, as alive, in his wrath.

11Be thou exalted above the heavens, O God. Above all the earth Thine honour!

11The just shall rejoice when he shall see the revenge: he shall wash his hands in the blood of the sinner.

12(not in this translation)

12And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth.