Psalm 57 is the 57th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me". In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 56. In Latin, it is known as " Miserere mei Deus". It is attributed to King David, and is described as a Michtam of David, when he fled from the face of Saul, in the cave, recalling either the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22), or the cave in the wilderness of En-gedi, on the western shore of the Dead Sea (1 Samuel 24).
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music.
Structure
The psalm consists of two parts. In the first, verses 1–6, David gives expression to the anxiety which he felt, imploring Divine assistance against Saul and his other enemies. In the second part, verses 7–11, he proceeds upon the confident expectation of deliverance, and stirs up his soul to the exercise of praise.
Melody
The psalm is addressed to a leader of worship; possibly this psalm was sung to a melody known as "Altaschith or "Do Not Destroy", although there is considerable uncertainty about this. A number of translations have chosen to transliterate the Hebrew expression as "al tashheth" (Tanakh) or "Al-tashheth" (Margolis). The same directive, "Do Not Destroy", can be found in the headings of Psalm 58 and Psalm 59.
Uses
Judaism
Verse 3 is found in the repetition of the Amidah on Rosh Hashanah.
Coptic Orthodox Church
In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Sext. It is also in the prayer of the Veil, which is generally prayed only by monks.
Book of Common Prayer
In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the 11th day of the month, and it is a Proper Psalm for Mattins on Easter Day.
Musical settings
Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 57 in a metred version in German, "Sei mir gnädig, o Gott, mein Herr", SWV 154, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628. Johann Vierdanck set verses 8–12 in German as a sacred concerto, Mein Herz ist bereit, Gott (My heart is ready, God) for two voices, two violins and continuo, c. 1640.
Text
The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic text come from different textual traditions. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 56.
Verse 6
- They have prepared a net for my steps;
- My soul is bowed down;
- They have dug a pit before me;
- Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.
Alexander Kirkpatrick suggests that the reference to David's enemies being caught in their own trap indicates an affinity with the cave of En-gedi mentioned in 1 Samuel 24:1–3.
Notes
References
External links
- Pieces with text from Psalm 57: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Psalm 57: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Psalm 57 in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre
- Text of Psalm 57 according to the 1928 Psalter
- For the director. Do not destroy.* A miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into a cave. / Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Psalm 57:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
- Psalm 57 – From the Cave to Above the Heavens enduringword.com
- Psalm 57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, Church of England
- Psalm 57 at biblegateway.com
- Hymns for Psalm 57 hymnary.org
