English Standard Version
Psalms 57:4
4My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Psalms 57:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)My 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.
- New International Version (NIV)I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
- New King James Version (NKJV)My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey— whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows, and whose tongues cut like swords.
Context of Psalms 57:4
2I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 3He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
Read all of Psalms 57Psalms 57:4 word by word
נַפְשִׁ֤י׀ בְּת֥וֹךְ לְבָאִם֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה לֹ֫הֲטִ֥ים בְּֽנֵי־אָדָ֗ם שִׁ֭נֵּיהֶם חֲנִ֣ית וְחִצִּ֑ים וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם חֶ֣רֶב חַדָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- My soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- lionsלְבִיlâbîy' lebîyâ' lebâ'îym lebâ'ôth · lionH3833
- I lieשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: lay downH7901
- them that are set on fireלָהַטlâhaţ · to kindleH3857
- the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- whose teethשֵׁןshên · toothH8127
- spearsחֲנִיתchănîyth · spearH2595
- and arrowsחֵץchêts · arrowH2671
- and their tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
- a sharpחַדchad · sharpH2299
- swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
Cross-references for Psalms 57:4
- Psalms 10:9he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
- Psalms 17:12He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.
- Psalms 22:13they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
- Psalms 35:17How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!
- Psalms 58:6O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
- Proverbs 28:15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
- Daniel 6:22My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."
- Judges 9:20But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech."
- James 3:6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
- John 4:10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."
- Proverbs 30:14There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.
- Psalms 52:2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
- Psalms 55:21His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
- Psalms 64:3who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,
- Proverbs 12:18There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Proverbs 25:18A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
Commentaries on Psalms 57:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4My soul is among lions - לבאם בתוך bethoch lebaim . I agree with Dr. Kennicott that this should be translated, "My soul dwells in parched places," from לאב laab, he thirsted. And thus the Chaldee seems to have understood the place, though it be not explicit. I lie even among them that are set on fire - I seem to be among coals. It is no ordinary rage and malice by which I am pursued: each of my enemies seems determined to have my life.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4My soul is among lions - That is, among people who resemble lions; men, fierce, savage, ferocious. And I lie even among them that are set on fire - We have a term of similar import in common use now, when we say that one is “inflamed” with passion, referring to one who is infuriated and enraged. So we speak of “burning” with rage or wrath - an expression derived, perhaps, from the inflamed “appearance” of a man in anger. The idea here is not that he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4These verses are a prayer for rescue from strong enemies. The metaphor of fierce lions describes human foes. The psalmist feels unable to escape them without God's help (see also Psalms 35:11–21; 124:6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. The mingled figures of wild beasts (Psa 10:9; 17:12) and weapons of war (Psa 11:2) heighten the picture of danger. whose ... tongue--or slanders.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 57:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 57
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries