Psalms 57:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

To the chief musician: Do not destroy. A miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ אַל־תַּ֭שְׁחֵת לְדָוִ֣ד מִכְתָּ֑ם בְּבָרְח֥וֹ מִפְּנֵי־שָׁ֝א֗וּל בַּמְּעָרֽ͏ָה

Transliteration

To the mənaṣṣēaḥ upon ʾal-tašḥēt, to dāwid miktām, in his bārḥō from pənê-šāʾûl in the məʿārâ

Grammar Details

• *mənaṣṣēaḥ*: noun with preposition lamed, masculine singular - to the choirmaster/director/chief musician
• *ʾal-tašḥēt*: negative particle + verb, Hiphil imperfect 2ms - 'do not destroy'
• *dāwid*: proper noun with preposition lamed - to/for/of David
• *miktām*: noun, masculine singular - possibly a musical or literary term; unclear meaning
• *bārḥō*: infinitive construct with preposition bet and 3ms suffix - in his fleeing
• *pənê-šāʾûl*: construct noun + proper noun with preposition min - from the face/presence of Saul
• *məʿārâ*: noun with preposition bet, feminine singular - in the cave

Word Meanings

• *mənaṣṣēaḥ*: chief musician/choirmaster/director of music
• *ʾal-tašḥēt*: Do not destroy (possibly name of melody or tune)
• *miktām*: golden psalm/inscription/poem (meaning uncertain, possibly a musical or literary designation)
• *pənê*: face/presence/before

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. 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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for my soul trusts in you; yes, in the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For the Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful{H2603} unto me, O God,{H430} be merciful{H2603} unto me; For my soul{H5315} taketh refuge{H2620} in thee: Yea, in the shadow{H6738} of thy wings{H3671} will I take refuge,{H2620} Until [these] calamities{H1942} be overpast.{H5674}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  To the chief Musician{H5329}{H8764)}, Altaschith{H516}{H8686)}, Michtam{H4387} of David{H1732}, when he fled{H1272}{H8800)} from{H6440} Saul{H7586} in the cave{H4631}. Be merciful{H2603}{H8798)} unto me, O God{H430}, be merciful{H2603}{H8798)} unto me: for my soul{H5315} trusteth{H2620}{H8804)} in thee: yea, in the shadow{H6738} of thy wings{H3671} will I make my refuge{H2620}{H8799)}, until these calamities{H1942} be overpast{H5674}{H8799)}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Be mercifull vnto me (o God) be mercifull vnto me, for my soule trusteth in ye: & vnder the shadowe of thy wynges shalbe my refuge, vntill wickednesse be ouerpast.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  To him that excelleth. Destroy not. A Psalme of Dauid on Michtam. When he fled from Saul in the caue. Haue mercie vpon me, O God, haue mercie vpon me: for my soule trusteth in thee, and in the shadowe of thy wings wil I trust, till these afflictions ouerpasse.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  To the chiefe musition (to be song lyke vnto the song beginning) destroy not, a golden psalme of Dauid, when he fled from Saul into the caue. Be mercifull vnto me O Lorde, be mercifull vnto me: for my soule trusteth in thee, and vnder the shadowe of thy wynges wyll I trust, vntyll this tiranny be ouerpast.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  > Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, For my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, Until disaster has passed.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  To the Overseer. -- `Destroy not.' -- A secret treasure of David, in his fleeing from the face of Saul into a cave. Favour me, O God, favour me, For in Thee is my soul trusting, And in the shadow of Thy wings I trust, Until the calamities pass over.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; For my soul taketh refuge in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, Until `these' calamities be overpast.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  [For the Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave]. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; For my soul taketh refuge in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, Until [these] calamities be overpast.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  <To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. When he went in flight from Saul, in the hole of the rock.> Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for the hope of my soul is in you: I will keep myself safely under the shade of your wings, till these troubles are past.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God! Have mercy on me! For in you I have taken shelter. In the shadow of your wings I take shelter until trouble passes.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 91:4 : 4 He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His truth will be your shield and armor.
• Isa 26:20 : 20 Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by.
• Ps 63:7 : 7 When I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night.
• Ps 9:10 : 10 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
• Ruth 2:12 : 12 May the LORD reward you for what you have done. May you receive a full reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
• Ps 17:7-8 : 7 Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Protect me as you would the pupil of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
• Ps 36:7 : 7 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; your judgments are like the great depths; O Lord, you preserve both man and beast.
• Ps 56:1 : 1 For the director, according to 'The Silent Dove of Distant Places.' A Miktam of David, when the Philistines captured him in Gath.
• Ps 13:5 : 5 Lest my enemy say, 'I have overcome him,' and my foes rejoice when I fall.
• Ps 59:1 : 1 For the director: Do not destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch the house to kill him.
• Ps 61:4 : 4 For You have been a refuge for me, a strong tower against the enemy.
• Ps 91:9 : 9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, the Most High, your dwelling place,
• Ps 119:76-77 : 76 May Your lovingkindness comfort me, according to Your promise to Your servant. 77 Let Your mercy come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight.
• Ps 125:1 : 1 A song of ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but remains forever.
• Ps 69:13-16 : 13 Those who sit at the gate talk about me, and drunkards make up songs about me. 14 But as for me, my prayer is to you, Lord, at an acceptable time. God, in your abundant love, answer me with your salvation, which is sure. 15 Rescue me from the mud, and do not let me sink. Deliver me from those who hate me, and from the deep waters. 16 Do not let the floodwaters overwhelm me; do not let the deep swallow me up, or let the pit close its mouth over me.
• Ps 91:1 : 1 The one who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
• Jas 5:10-11 : 10 Take, my brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and patience. 11 See, we consider those who have endured to be blessed. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen the Lord's outcome—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
• Rev 7:14 : 14 I said to him, 'Sir, you know.' And he said to me, 'These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'
• Rev 21:4 : 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
• Isa 50:10 : 10 Who among you fears the LORD and listens to the voice of his servant? Let the one who walks in darkness, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
• Matt 24:22 : 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.
• Ps 2:12 : 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your way, for His wrath can flare up quickly. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
• Ps 142:1 : 1 A contemplative poem of David, when he was in the cave, a prayer.
• Ps 58:1 : 1 For the director, 'Do Not Destroy,' a Miktam of David.
• 1 Sam 22:1 : 1 David left from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there.
• 1 Sam 24:3 : 3 So Saul chose three thousand elite men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.
• 1 Sam 24:8 : 8 With these words, David restrained his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
• Isa 10:25 : 25 For in just a little while, my indignation against you will end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction.
• Luke 13:34 : 34 'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
• John 16:20 : 20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.