Psalm 57 was prayed, its title says, when David “fled from Saul into the cave”: “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me: for my soul trusteth in thee. And in the shadow of thy wings will I hope, until iniquity pass away.” It ends with a joyful morning song: “Arise, O my glory, arise psaltery and harp: I will arise early.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 56. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 57 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title, when he fled from Saul into the cave.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me: for my soul trusteth in thee. And in the shadow of thy wings will I hope, until iniquity pass away.
I will cry to God the most High; to God who hath done good to me.
He hath sent from heaven and delivered me: he hath made them a reproach that trod upon me. God hath sent his mercy and his truth,
And he hath delivered my soul from the midst of the young lions. I slept troubled. The sons of men, whose teeth are weapons and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.
They prepared a snare for my feet; and they bowed down my soul. They dug a pit before my face, and they are fallen into it.
My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will Sing, and rehearse a psalm.
Arise, O my glory, arise psaltery and harp: I will arise early.
I will give praise to thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing a psalm to thee among the nations.
For thy mercy is magnified even to the heavens: and thy truth unto the clouds.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth.
Psalm 57 or Psalm 56?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 56 is Psalm 57 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Miserere mei, Deus, miserere mei. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- Refuge in the cave: hunted by Saul, David hides in a cave and in God.
- Under God’s wings: like a bird sheltering its young, God protects those who trust him.
- God fulfils his purpose: “I will cry to God the most High; to God who hath done good to me.”
- Morning praise: “I will arise early,” praising God at dawn.
- The refrain: “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.”
How the Church uses Psalm 57
- At Morning Prayer (Lauds) on Thursday of Week I. See Lauds.
- In danger, as a prayer of refuge. See psalms for protection.
A prayer with Psalm 57
Written for this page:
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in you my soul takes refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I will hide until the storm has passed.
My heart is ready, O God; I will sing and awake the dawn.
Be exalted above the heavens, and let your glory fill the earth. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Where is “In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge”?
Psalm 57:2 in modern Bibles (56:2 in the Douay-Rheims: “in the shadow of thy wings will I hope”).
What is Psalm 57 about?
David’s trust in God while hiding from Saul in a cave, ending in joyful morning praise.
More psalms and prayers
- Psalm 108 (My heart is ready, O God)
- Psalm 56 (You keep my tears)
- Psalm 59 (Deliver me from my enemies)
- Psalm 91
- Psalm 63
- Psalms for protection
- Lauds (Morning Prayer)
- How many psalms are there?
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 56 (57), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.