MY HEART IS STEADFAST
Key verse: 7
NIV
Psalm 57[a](A)
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(B)
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.(C)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(D)
until the disaster has passed.(E)
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.(F)
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,(G)
rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[c](H)
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(I)
4 I am in the midst of lions;(J)
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.(K)
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.(L)
6 They spread a net for my feet(M)—
I was bowed down(N) in distress.
They dug a pit(O) in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.(P)
7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;(Q)
I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!(R)
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(S)
Footnotes
- Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
- Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
Cross references
- Psalm 57:1 : 57:7-11pp — Ps 108:1-5
- Psalm 57:1 : 1Sa 22:1; 24:3; Ps 142 Title
- Psalm 57:1 : Ps 2:12; 9:9; 34:22
- Psalm 57:1 : S Ru 2:12; S Mt 23:37
- Psalm 57:1 : Isa 26:20
- Psalm 57:2 : Ps 138:8
- Psalm 57:3 : Ps 18:9, 16; 69:14; 142:6; 144:5, 7
- Psalm 57:3 : Ps 56:1
- Psalm 57:3 : Ps 25:10; 40:11; 115:1
- Psalm 57:4 : S Ps 35:17
- Psalm 57:4 : S Ps 55:21; Pr 30:14
- Psalm 57:5 : ver 11; Ps 108:5
- Psalm 57:6 : Ps 10:9; 31:4; 140:5
- Psalm 57:6 : S Ps 38:6; 145:14
- Psalm 57:6 : S Ps 9:15
- Psalm 57:6 : S Est 6:13; Ps 7:15; Pr 28:10; Ecc 10:8
- Psalm 57:7 : Ps 112:7
- Psalm 57:8 : Ps 33:2; 149:3; 150:3
- Psalm 57:10 : S Ps 36:5
- Psalm 57:11 : S Ps 8:1; 113:4
- Psalm 57:11 : S ver 5
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth
To the choirmaster: according to (A)Do Not Destroy. A (B)Miktam[a] of David, when he fled from Saul, in (C)the cave.57 (D)Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul (E)takes refuge;
in (F)the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
(G)till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who (H)fulfills his purpose for me.
3 (I)He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame (J)him who tramples on me. Selah
(K)God will send out (L)his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
4 My soul is in the midst of (M)lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose (N)teeth are spears and arrows,
whose (O)tongues are sharp swords.
5 (P)Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 They set (Q)a net for my steps;
my soul was (R)bowed down.
They (S)dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 (T)My heart is (U)steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 (V)Awake, (W)my glory![b]
Awake, (X)O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your (Y)steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 (Z)Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
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Footnotes
- Psalm 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 57:8 Or my whole being
Cross references
- Psalm 57:1 : [Ps. 58, title; 59, title; 75, title]
- Psalm 57:1 : Ps. 16, title; 56, title
- Psalm 57:1 : 1 Sam. 22:1; 24:1-3; [Ps. 142, title]
- Psalm 57:1 : Ps. 56:1; See Ps. 4:1
- Psalm 57:1 : Ps. 91:4
- Psalm 57:1 : See Ps. 17:8
- Psalm 57:1 : Isa. 26:20
- Psalm 57:2 : Ps. 138:8
- Psalm 57:3 : Ps. 144:5, 7; [Ps. 18:16]
- Psalm 57:3 : See Ps. 56:1
- Psalm 57:3 : Ps. 43:3
- Psalm 57:3 : See Ps. 36:5; 40:11
- Psalm 57:4 : Ps. 58:6
- Psalm 57:4 : Prov. 30:14
- Psalm 57:4 : Ps. 55:21; 59:7; 64:3; Prov. 12:18; [Ps. 52:2; Jer. 9:8]
- Psalm 57:5 : Ps. 108:5; [Ps. 113:4]
- Psalm 57:6 : See Job 18:8
- Psalm 57:6 : Ps. 145:14; 146:8
- Psalm 57:6 : See Ps. 7:15
- Psalm 57:7 : For ver. 7-11, see Ps. 108:1-5
- Psalm 57:7 : Ps. 112:7
- Psalm 57:8 : Judg. 5:12
- Psalm 57:8 : See Ps. 16:9
- Psalm 57:8 : 1 Chr. 15:16
- Psalm 57:10 : See Ps. 36:5
- Psalm 57:11 : [See ver. 5 above]; Ps. 108:5; [Ps. 113:4]
57 (D)Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul (E)takes refuge;
in (F)the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
(G)till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who (H)fulfills his purpose for me.
3 (I)He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame (J)him who tramples on me. Selah
(K)God will send out (L)his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
4 My soul is in the midst of (M)lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose (N)teeth are spears and arrows,
whose (O)tongues are sharp swords.
5 (P)Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 They set (Q)a net for my steps;
my soul was (R)bowed down.
They (S)dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 (T)My heart is (U)steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 (V)Awake, (W)my glory![b]
Awake, (X)O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your (Y)steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 (Z)Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
Footnotes
- Psalm 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 57:8 Or my whole being
Cross references
- Psalm 57:1 : [Ps. 58, title; 59, title; 75, title]
- Psalm 57:1 : Ps. 16, title; 56, title
- Psalm 57:1 : 1 Sam. 22:1; 24:1-3; [Ps. 142, title]
- Psalm 57:1 : Ps. 56:1; See Ps. 4:1
- Psalm 57:1 : Ps. 91:4
- Psalm 57:1 : See Ps. 17:8
- Psalm 57:1 : Isa. 26:20
- Psalm 57:2 : Ps. 138:8
- Psalm 57:3 : Ps. 144:5, 7; [Ps. 18:16]
- Psalm 57:3 : See Ps. 56:1
- Psalm 57:3 : Ps. 43:3
- Psalm 57:3 : See Ps. 36:5; 40:11
- Psalm 57:4 : Ps. 58:6
- Psalm 57:4 : Prov. 30:14
- Psalm 57:4 : Ps. 55:21; 59:7; 64:3; Prov. 12:18; [Ps. 52:2; Jer. 9:8]
- Psalm 57:5 : Ps. 108:5; [Ps. 113:4]
- Psalm 57:6 : See Job 18:8
- Psalm 57:6 : Ps. 145:14; 146:8
- Psalm 57:6 : See Ps. 7:15
- Psalm 57:7 : For ver. 7-11, see Ps. 108:1-5
- Psalm 57:7 : Ps. 112:7
- Psalm 57:8 : Judg. 5:12
- Psalm 57:8 : See Ps. 16:9
- Psalm 57:8 : 1 Chr. 15:16
- Psalm 57:10 : See Ps. 36:5
- Psalm 57:11 : [See ver. 5 above]; Ps. 108:5; [Ps. 113:4]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
While hiding in a cave from Saul, David cries out for God’s mercy in great desperation. Instead of fighting back or relying on his own strength, he takes refuge under the shadow of God’s wings, trusting that God will send help from heaven to save him (3).
Although his soul is among roaring lions (4), his heart is steadfast in praising and trusting God (7-11). In another translation, verse 7 reads, “My heart is fixed.” David’s heart is anchored firmly upon the faithfulness of the Lord, and he can thus sing praises to God even during desperate times.
Let us remember that our confidence lies not in our circumstances but in the faithfulness and goodness of the Lord. Let us praise God by faith in all circumstances.
Prayer: Father, thank you for your deliverance. Help me to remain steadfast like David and praise your love and faithfulness no matter what trials I face.
One Word: My heart is steadfast
