Psalms 57:1

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  To the chief Musician{H8764)}, Altaschith{H8686)}, Michtam of David, when he fled{H8800)} from Saul in the cave. Be merciful{H8798)} unto me, O God, be merciful{H8798)} unto me: for my soul trusteth{H8804)} in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge{H8799)}, until these calamities be overpast{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 shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall trust: His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
• Isa 26:20 : 20 Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past.
• Ps 63:7 : 7 Because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings will I rejoice.
• Ps 9:10 : 10 And those who know your name will put their trust in you; for you, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
• Ruth 2:12 : 12 The LORD recompense your work, and a full reward be given to you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to trust.
• Ps 17:7-8 : 7 Show your marvelous lovingkindness, O you who save by your right hand those who put their trust in you from those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings.
• Ps 36:7 : 7 How excellent is your lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings.
• Ps 56:1 : 1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; he fights against me daily oppressing me.
• Ps 13:5 : 5 But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
• Ps 59:1 : 1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me.
• Ps 61:4 : 4 I will abide in your tabernacle forever: I will trust in the shelter of your wings. Selah.
• Ps 91:9 : 9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation;
• Ps 119:76-77 : 76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant. 77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live, for Your law is my delight.
• Ps 125:1 : 1 Those who trust in the LORD shall be like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but endures forever.
• Ps 69:13-16 : 13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD, in an acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of your mercy hear me, in the truth of your salvation. 14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. 15 Let not the floodwaters overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut its mouth on me. 16 Hear me, O LORD, for your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of your tender mercies.
• Ps 91:1 : 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
• Jas 5:10-11 : 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and full of mercy.
• Rev 7:14 : 14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are those who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
• Rev 21:4 : 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things have passed away.
• Isa 50:10 : 10 Who among you fears the LORD, who obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and rely upon his God.
• Matt 24:22 : 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
• Ps 2:12 : 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
• Ps 142:1 : 1 I cried to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD did I make my plea.
• Ps 58:1 : 1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? Do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men?
• 1 Sam 22:1 : 1 David therefore departed from there, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.
• 1 Sam 24:3 : 3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. And David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
• 1 Sam 24:8 : 8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and showed respect.
• Isa 10:25 : 25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and my anger in their destruction.
• Luke 13:34 : 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets, and stone those who are sent to you; how often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!
• John 16:20 : 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice: and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.