Psalms 57 (KJV)

Chapter Text

57:1 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.

57:2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

57:3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

57:4 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.

57:5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

57:6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

57:8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

57:9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

57:10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

57:11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "all things", "mercy", "merciful", "soul", "trusteth", "thee", "shadow", and "wings". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "all things" and "mercy", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local KJV text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "all things" and "mercy" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "all things" and "mercy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.