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A Call to Yahweh in Distress

A psalm of David at his fleeing from the presence of Absalom, his son.[a]

Yahweh, how many are my enemies;
many are rising against me.
Many are saying about my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him from[b] God. Selah[c]
But[d] you, Yahweh, are a shield around me,
my glory and the one who lifts up my head.
With my voice I call to Yahweh
and he answers me from his holy hill.[e] Selah
I lay down and slept;
I woke up because Yahweh sustains me.
I am not afraid of the ten thousands of people
who all around have set themselves against me.
Rise up, O Yahweh; deliver me, O my God;
for you strike all my enemies on the cheek.
The teeth of the wicked you break.
To Yahweh belongs deliverance;
may your blessing be over your people. Selah

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 3:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 3:2 Or “in”
  3. Psalm 3:2 Meaning uncertain; probably a musical or liturgical direction
  4. Psalm 3:3 Or “And”
  5. Psalm 3:4 Literally “the hill of his holiness”

Psalm 3[a]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(A)

Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.(B)[b]

But you, Lord, are a shield(C) around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.(D)
I call out to the Lord,(E)
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.(F)

I lie down and sleep;(G)
    I wake again,(H) because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear(I) though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.(J)

Arise,(K) Lord!
    Deliver me,(L) my God!
Strike(M) all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth(N) of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverance.(O)
    May your blessing(P) be on your people.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-8 is numbered 3:2-9.
  2. Psalm 3:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 4 and 8.