Psalms

Psalm 57:1–2

1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktama 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.

2I cry out to God Most High,b

to God who fulfills His purpose for me.

Footnotes

  • a 57:1 Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 16 and 56–60.
  • b 57:2 Hebrew Elohim-Elyon

Read all of Psalm 57

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Psalm 57:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
For the choirmasterלַמְנַצֵּ֣חַlam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥPreposition-l, Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularH5329 be pre-eminent, enduring
Do Not Destroyתַּ֭שְׁחֵתtaš·ḥêṯVerb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singularH516 'Thou must not destroy'
A Miktamמִכְתָּ֑םmiḵ·tāmNoun - masculine singularH4387 Mikhtam
of Davidלְדָוִ֣דlə·ḏā·wiḏPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
when he fledבְּבָרְח֥וֹbə·ḇā·rə·ḥōwPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH1272 go through, flee
fromמִפְּנֵי־mip·pə·nê·šā-Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural constructH6440 face, before
Saulשָׁ֝א֗וּלšā·ʾûlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
into the caveבַּמְּעָרָֽה׃bam·mə·‘ā·rāhPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH4631 cave
Have mercy on meחָנֵּ֤נִיḥān·nê·nîVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common singularH2603 shew favour, be gracious
O Godאֱלֹהִ֨ים׀’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
have mercyחָנֵּ֗נִיḥān·nê·nîVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common singularH2603 shew favour, be gracious
forכִּ֥יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
in Youבְךָ֮ḇə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
my soulנַ֫פְשִׁ֥יnap̄·šîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
takes refugeחָסָ֪יָהḥā·sā·yāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH2620 seek refuge
In the shadowוּבְצֵֽל־ū·ḇə·ṣêl-Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH6738 shadow
of Your wingsכְּנָפֶ֥יךָkə·nā·p̄e·ḵāNoun - feminine plural construct; second person masculine singularH3671 wing, extremity
I will take shelterאֶחְסֶ֑ה’eḥ·sehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH2620 seek refuge
untilעַ֝֗ד‘aḏPrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the dangerהַוּֽוֹת׃haw·wō·wṯNoun - feminine pluralH1942 desire
has passedיַעֲבֹ֥רya·‘ă·ḇōrVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on

Psalm 57:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
I cry outאֶ֭קְרָא’eq·rāVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
to Godלֵֽאלֹהִ֣יםlê·lō·hîmPreposition-l; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
Most Highעֶלְי֑וֹן‘el·yō·wnAdjective - masculine singularH5945 high
to Godלָ֝אֵ֗לlā·’êlPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH410 god
who fulfillsגֹּמֵ֥רgō·mêrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH1584 end, come to an end, complete
His purpose for meעָלָֽי׃‘ā·lāyPreposition; first person common singularH5921 height

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Psalm 57:1 Psalm 91:4 · Psalm 17:7–8 · Psalm 36:7 · Psalm 9:10 · Psalm 63:7 · Revelation 21:4 · Psalm 61:4 · James 5:10–11 · Psalm 69:13–16 · Psalm 91:1 · Ruth 2:12 · Isaiah 26:20

Psalm 57:2 Psalm 138:8 · Philippians 1:6 · Hebrews 13:21 · Isaiah 26:12 · Philippians 2:12 · Psalm 136:2–3 · Isaiah 57:15 · Psalm 56:2

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.