Psalms 57 (YLT)

Chapter Text

57:1 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.

57:2 I call to God Most High, To God <FI>who<Fi> is perfecting for me.

57:3 He sendeth from the heaven, and saveth me, He reproached--who is panting after me. Selah. God sendeth forth His kindness and His truth.

57:4 My soul <FI>is<Fi> in the midst of lions, I lie down <FI>among<Fi> flames--sons of men, Their teeth <FI>are<Fi> a spear and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

57:5 Be Thou exalted above the heavens, O God, Above all the earth Thine honour.

57:6 A net they have prepared for my steps, Bowed down hath my soul, They have digged before me a pit, They have fallen into its midst. Selah.

57:7 Prepared is my heart, O God, Prepared is my heart, I sing and praise.

57:8 Awake, mine honour, awake, psaltery and harp, I awake the morning dawn.

57:9 I thank Thee among the peoples, O Lord, I praise Thee among the nations.

57:10 For great unto the heavens <FI>is<Fi> Thy kindness, And unto the clouds Thy truth.

57:11 Be thou exalted above the heavens, O God. Above all the earth Thine honour!

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "overseer", "destroy", "secret", "treasure", "david", "fleeing", "face", and "saul". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "overseer" and "destroy", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local YLT text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "overseer" and "destroy" 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 "overseer" and "destroy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.