Font Size
Psalm 3
The Voice
Psalm 3
The Voice
Psalm 3
A song of David composed while fleeing from his son Absalom.
This Davidic psalm recalls the time when David fled from Jerusalem after Absalom, his son, rebelled and claimed the throne (2 Samuel 15–17).
1 Eternal One, my adversaries are many, too many to count.
Now they have taken a stand against me!
2 Right to my face they say,
“God will not save you!”
[pause][a]
3 But You, Eternal One, wrap around me like an impenetrable shield.
You give me glory and lift my eyes up to the heavens.
4 I lift my voice to You, Eternal One,
and You answer me from Your sacred heights.
[pause]
5 I lie down at night and fall asleep.
I awake in the morning—healthy, strong, vibrant—because the Eternal supports me.
6 No longer will I fear my tens of thousands of enemies
who have surrounded me!
7 Rise up, O Eternal One!
Rescue me, O God!
For You have dealt my enemies a strong blow to the jaw!
You have shattered their teeth! Do so again.
8 Liberation truly comes from the Eternal.
Let Your blessings shower down upon Your people.
[pause]
Footnotes
- 3:2 Literally, selah, likely a musical direction from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up”
Psalm 3
New International Version
Psalm 3
New International Version
Psalm 3[a]
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(A)
1 Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.(B)”[b]
3 But you, Lord, are a shield(C) around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.(D)
4 I call out to the Lord,(E)
and he answers me from his holy mountain.(F)
5 I lie down and sleep;(G)
I wake again,(H) because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear(I) though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.(J)
Psalm 3
King James Version
Psalm 3
King James Version
3 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
Psalm 3
New King James Version
Psalm 3
New King James Version
The Lord Helps His Troubled People
A Psalm of David (A)when he fled from Absalom his son.
3 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah
3 But You, O Lord, are (B)a shield [a]for me,
My glory and (C)the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And (D)He heard me from His (E)holy hill. Selah
5 (F)I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
6 (G)I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O Lord;
Save me, O my God!
(H)For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 (I)Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah
Footnotes
- Psalm 3:3 Lit. around
The Voice (VOICE)
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.