Psalms 57
What Happens in This Chapter
In this song, the writer asks God for help while enemies hunt him. He compares them to lions and to men with weapons for teeth and tongues. He says he will hide safely with God until the danger passes. Then the song turns from fear to singing, praise, and thanks.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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.
1Be kind to me, God. Please be kind to me. I trust you. I will hide safely under your wings, like a bird's chick. I will stay there until this trouble is over.
2I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
2I call out to God, who is higher than everything. He finishes everything he plans to do for me.
3He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
3He reaches down from heaven and saves me. He stops the people who want to crush me. (Selah) God sends me his love and his truth.
"Selah" is a word left in the song from long ago. Nobody today knows for sure what it meant. It may have marked a pause or a change in the music.
4My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
4I am living among lions. I lie down beside people who want to hurt me. Their teeth are like spears and arrows. Their tongues are like sharp swords.
5Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
5God, be lifted up higher than the heavens. Let your greatness be seen over the whole earth.
6They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
6They set a trap where I walk. I felt very sad and low. They dug a deep hole for me to fall into. Then they fell into it themselves. (Selah)
7My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
7God, my heart is steady. My heart will not be shaken. I will sing and make music for you.
8Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
8Wake up, my soul! Wake up, my harp and my lyre! I will be awake and singing before the sun comes up.
The old English says "psaltery and harp." Both were stringed instruments, a little like a small harp. "My glory" here means the singer's own self, or his soul.
9I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
9Lord, I will thank you where many people can hear. I will sing about you to people everywhere.
10For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
10Your love is so big it reaches the heavens. Your truth reaches up as high as the clouds.
"Mercy" in the old English here means God's steady, faithful love, not just letting someone off.
11Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
11God, be lifted up higher than the heavens. Let your greatness be seen over the whole earth.
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