Psalm 57: Be merciful to me, O God
To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.
Meter: C.M. (8,6,8,6)
1 Be merciful to me, O God; thy mercy unto me Do thou extend; because my soul doth put her trust in thee:
Yea, in the shadow of thy wings my refuge I will place, Until these sad calamities do wholly overpass.
2 My cry I will cause to ascend unto the Lord most high; To God, who doth all things for me perform most perfectly.
3 From heav’n he shall send down, and me from his reproach defend That would devour me: God his truth and mercy forth shall send.
4 My soul among fierce lions is, I firebrands live among, Men’s sons, whose teeth are spears and darts, a sharp sword is their tongue.
5 Be thou exalted very high above the heav’ns, O God; Let thou thy glory be advanc’d o’er all the earth abroad.
6 My soul’s bow’d down; for they a net have laid, my steps to snare: Into the pit which they have digg’d for me, they fallen are.
7 My heart is fix’d, my heart is fix’d, O God; I’ll sing and praise. 8 My glory wake; wake psalt’ry, harp; myself I’ll early raise.
9 I’ll praise thee ‘mong the people, Lord; ’mong nations sing will I: 10 For great to heav’n thy mercy is, thy truth is to the sky.
11 O Lord, exalted be thy name above the heav’ns to stand: Do thou thy glory far advance above both sea and land.