Psalms 57:1

Psalms 57:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

Context of Psalms 57:1

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. 2I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. 3He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me. Interlude My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

Psalms 57:1 word by word

חָנֵּ֤נִי אֱלֹהִ֨ים׀ חָנֵּ֗נִי כִּ֥י בְךָ֮ חָסָ֪יָה נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י וּבְצֵֽל־כְּנָפֶ֥יךָ אֶחְסֶ֑ה עַ֝֗ד יַעֲבֹ֥ר הַוּֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Be mercifulחָנַןchânan · be graciousH2603
• unto me, O Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• unto me: for my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• trustethחָסָהchâsâh · to seek refugeH2620
• in thee: yea, in the shadowצֵלtsêl · shadowH6738
• of thy wingsכָּנָףkânâph · wingH3671
• calamitiesהַוָּהhavvâh · desireH1942
• be overpastעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674

Cross-references for Psalms 57:1

• Psalms 58:1Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly?
• Psalms 59:1Rescue me from my enemies, O God. Protect me from those who have come to destroy me.
• Psalms 142:1I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
• 1 Samuel 22:1So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.
• 1 Samuel 24:3At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!
• Psalms 56:1O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long.
• Psalms 69:13But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation.
• Psalms 119:76Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.
• Psalms 9:10Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.
• Psalms 13:5But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
• Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
• Isaiah 50:10Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God.
• Psalms 17:7Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.
• Psalms 36:7How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.
• Psalms 61:4Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude
• Psalms 63:7Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

Commentaries on Psalms 57:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Be merciful unto me - To show David's deep earnestness, he repeats this twice; he was in great danger, surrounded by implacable enemies, and he knew that God alone could deliver him. My soul trusteth in thee - I put my life into thy hand; and my immortal spirit knows no other portion than thyself. In the shadow of thy wings - A metaphor taken from the brood of a hen taking shelter under her wings when they see a bird of prey; and there they continue to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Be merciful unto me, O God - The same beginning as the former psalm - a cry for mercy; an overwhelming sense of trouble and danger leading him to come at once to the throne of God for help. See the notes at Psalm 56:1. For my soul trusteth in thee - See the notes at Psalm 56:3. He had nowhere else to go; there was no one on whom he could rely but God. Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge - Under the protection or covering of his wings…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1David begins with prayer and complaint. (1-6) He concludes with joy and praise. (7-11) Verses 1-6 All David's dependence is upon God. The most eminent believers need often repeat the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner." But if our souls trust in the Lord, this may assure us, in our utmost dangers, that our calamities will at length be overpast, and in the mean time, by faith and prayer, we must make him our refuge. Though God be most high…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1shadow of Your wings: Like a bird protects its young, God protects those who trust in him (see Psalm 17:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-111. my soul--or self, or life, which is threatened. shadow of thy wings--(Psa 17:8; 36:7). calamities--literally, "mischiefs" (Psa 52:2; 55:10).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 57:1

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Anthropomorphisms
• Faith
• Music

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Altaschith
• Michtam
• Psalms
• Overpass
• Psalms, Book of
• Song

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