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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 57

Translation and Transliteration of 

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1For the leader; al tashcheth. Of David. A michtam; when he fled from Shaul into a cave.

lam-na-TZAY-akh al tash-KHAYT l'-da-VID mikh-T'AM b'-vor-KHO mi-p'-NAY sha-UL ba-m'-a-RAH

אלַמְנַצֵּחַ אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת לְדָוִד מִכְתָּם בְּבָרְחוֹ מִפְּנֵי־שָׁאוּל בַּמְּעָרָה׃

57:1   When he fled from Shaul, into a cave

Even in the wilderness of Ein Gedi, David is chased down by Shaul, as someone informed the king of his location. Shaul takes three-thousand soldiers and plans to destroy David once and for all. The Tanakh records (I Samuel 24:3) that Shaul goes alone into a cave to relieve himself, unaware that David is hiding there. Though he has the opportunity, David does not kill Shaul. Rather, he cuts off a piece of Shaul’s royal garment and then confronts Shaul, stating that he had the chance to kill him but did not. Shaul breaks down and weeps, hugging David and wishing him only well, until the next time he seeks to kill him again. David chooses to show restraint and respect for the king of Israel despite being continually chased by him. This psalm is another testimony of Hashem’s salvation and David’s acknowledgment of His constant protection.

2Have mercy on me, O Hashem, have mercy on me, for I seek refuge in You, I seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings, until danger passes.

בחָנֵּנִי אֱלֹהִים חָנֵּנִי כִּי בְךָ חָסָיָה נַפְשִׁי וּבְצֵל־כְּנָפֶיךָ אֶחְסֶה עַד יַעֲבֹר הַוּוֹת׃

3I call to Hashem Most High, to Hashem who is good to me.

גאֶקְרָא לֵאלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן לָאֵל גֹּמֵר עָלָי׃

4He will reach down from heaven and deliver me: Hashem will send down His steadfast love; my persecutor reviles. Selah.

דיִשְׁלַח מִשָּׁמַיִם וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנִי חֵרֵף שֹׁאֲפִי סֶלָה יִשְׁלַח אֱלֹהִים חַסְדּוֹ וַאֲמִתּוֹ׃

5As for me, I lie down among man-eating lions whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongue is a sharp sword.

הנַפְשִׁי בְּתוֹךְ לְבָאִם אֶשְׁכְּבָה לֹהֲטִים בְּנֵי־אָדָם שִׁנֵּיהֶם חֲנִית וְחִצִּים וּלְשׁוֹנָם חֶרֶב חַדָּה׃

6Exalt Yourself over the heavens, O Hashem, let Your glory be over all the earth!

ורוּמָה עַל־הַשָּׁמַיִם אֱלֹהִים עַל כָּל־הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ׃

7They prepared a net for my feet to ensnare me; they dug a pit for me, but they fell into it. Selah.

זרֶשֶׁת הֵכִינוּ לִפְעָמַי כָּפַף נַפְשִׁי כָּרוּ לְפָנַי שִׁיחָה נָפְלוּ בְתוֹכָהּ סֶלָה׃

8My heart is firm, O Hashem; my heart is firm; I will sing, I will chant a hymn.

חנָכוֹן לִבִּי אֱלֹהִים נָכוֹן לִבִּי אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמֵּרָה׃

9Awake, O my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will wake the dawn.

טעוּרָה כְבוֹדִי עוּרָה הַנֵּבֶל וְכִנּוֹר אָעִירָה שָּׁחַר׃

10I will praise You among the peoples, O Hashem; I will sing a hymn to You among the nations;

יאוֹדְךָ בָעַמִּים אֲדֹנָי אֲזַמֶּרְךָ בַּל־אֻמִּים׃

11for Your faithfulness is as high as heaven; Your steadfastness reaches to the sky.

יאכִּי־גָדֹל עַד־שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ וְעַד־שְׁחָקִים אֲמִתֶּךָ׃

12Exalt Yourself over the heavens, O Hashem, let Your glory be over all the earth!

יברוּמָה עַל־שָׁמַיִם אֱלֹהִים עַל כָּל־הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ׃