Refuge in the Cave
Psalms 56
Composed while David fled from Saul into a cave, the psalm asks for mercy and trust in the shelter of God's wings until danger passes, recalling how the Lord sent help from heaven and delivered him from enemies described as lions and men whose tongues are sharp as swords. Confident and ready of heart, the psalmist resolves to sing praises and give thanks among the nations for the Lord's mercy and truth, which reach to the heavens.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson—
BrentonFor the end. Destroy not: by David, for a memorial, when he fled from the presence of Saul to the cave.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, μὴ διαφθείρῃς, τῷ Δαυὶδ εἰς στηλογραφίαν, ἐν τῷ αὐτὸν ἀποδιδράσκειν ἀπὸ προσώπου Σαοὺλ εἰς τὸ σπήλαιον.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader; Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David; Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
2
ThomsonBE merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me. For in Thee my soul hath trusted: and in the shadow of Thy wings I will put my trust, until this iniquity pass away.
BrentonHave mercy, upon me, O God, have mercy upon me: for my soul has trusted in thee: and in the shadow of thy wings will I hope, until the iniquity have passed away.
GreekἘλέησον με ὁ Θεὸς, ἐλέησόν με, ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ πέποιθεν ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ ἐν τῇ σκιᾷ τῶν πτερύγων σου ἐλπιῶ, ἕως οὗ παρέλθῃ ἡ ἀνομία.
KJVBe merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
JPSBe gracious unto me, O God, be gracious unto me, for in Thee hath my soul taken refuge; yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I take refuge, until calamities be overpast.
3
ThomsonI will cry to God the Most high; to God Who to me hath been kind.
BrentonI will cry to God most high; the God who has benefited me. Pause.
GreekΚεκράξομαι πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ὕψιστον τὸν Θεὸν τὸν εὐεργετήσαντά με· διάψαλμα.
KJVI will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
JPSI will cry unto God Most high; unto God that accomplisheth it for me.
4
ThomsonHe sent from heaven and saved me. He delivered up to reproach them who were treading me down. God sent forth His mercy and His truth;
BrentonHe sent from heaven and saved me; he gave to reproach them that trampled on me: God has sent forth his mercy and his truth;
GreekἘξαπέστειλεν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἔσωσέ με, ἔδωκεν εἰς ὄνειδος τοὺς καταπατοῦντάς με· ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν αὐτοῦ,
KJVHe shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
JPSHe will send from heaven, and save me, when he that would swallow me up taunteth, Selah; God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
5
Thomsonand delivered my soul from the midst of lions. I laid me down to sleep, troubled as I was. As for the sons of men, their teeth are weapons and darts; and their tongue is a sharp sword.
Brentonand he has delivered my soul from the midst of lions' whelps: I lay down to sleep, though troubled. As for the sons of men, their teeth are arms and missile weapons, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Greekκαὶ ἐῤῥύσατο τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐκ μέσου σκύμνων· ἐκοιμήθην τεταραγμένος· υἱοὶ ἀνθρώπων, οἱ ὀδόντες αὐτῶν, ὅπλον καὶ βέλη, καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτῶν, μάχαιρα ὀξεῖα.
KJVMy soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
JPSMy soul is among lions, I do lie down among them that are aflame; Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
6
ThomsonBe Thou, O God, exalted above the heavens; and Thy glory over all the earth.
BrentonBe thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; and thy glory above all the earth.
GreekὙψώθητι ἐπὶ τοὺς οὐρανοὺς ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἡ δόξα σου.
KJVBe thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
JPSBe Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Thy glory be above all the earth.
7
ThomsonThey had prepared snares for my feet; and had caused my soul to bow down. They dug a pit before me: but into it they themselves have fallen.
BrentonThey have prepared snares for my feet, and have bowed down my soul: they have dug a pit before my face, and fallen into it themselves. Pause.
GreekΠαγίδας ἡτοίμασαν τοῖς ποσί μου, καὶ κατέκαμψαν τὴν ψυχήν μου· ὤρυξαν πρὸ προσώπου μου βόθρον, καὶ ἐνέπεσαν εἰς αὐτόν· διάψαλμα.
KJVThey have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
JPSThey have prepared a net for my steps, My soul is bowed down; They have digged a pit before me, They are fallen into the midst thereof themselves. Selah
8
ThomsonMy heart is prepared, O God; my heart is prepared I will sing and to vocal join instrumental music.
BrentonMy heart, O God, is ready, my heart is ready: I will sing, yea will sing psalms.
GreekἙτοίμη ἡ καρδία μου ὁ Θεὸς, ἑτοίμη ἡ καρδία μου, ᾄσομαι καὶ ψαλῶ.
KJVMy heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
JPSMy heart is stedfast, O God, my heart is stedfast; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.
9
ThomsonAwake my glory—awake psaltery and kithara: I myself will awake early.
BrentonAwake, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I will awake early.
GreekἘξεγέρθητι ἡ δόξα μου, ἐξεγέρθητι ψαλτήριον καὶ κιθάρα, ἐξεγερθήσομαι ὄρθρου.
KJVAwake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
JPSAwake, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp; I will awake the dawn.
10
ThomsonI will praise Thee, O Lord, among peoples: among nations I will hymn Thy praise.
BrentonO Lord, I will give thanks to thee among the nations: I will sing to thee among the Gentiles.
GreekἘξομολογήσομαί σοι ἐν λαοῖς Κύριε, ψαλῶ σοι ἐν ἔθνεσιν.
KJVI will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
JPSI will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises unto Thee among the nations.
11
ThomsonFor Thy mercy is magnified up to heaven and Thy truth up to the clouds.
BrentonFor thy mercy has been magnified even to the heavens, and thy truth to the clouds.
GreekὍτι ἐμεγαλύνθη ἕως τῶν οὐρανῶν τὸ ἔλεός σου, καὶ ἕως τῶν νεφελῶν ἡ ἀλήθειά σου.
KJVFor thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
JPSFor Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, And Thy truth unto the skies.
12
ThomsonBe Thou, O God, exalted above the heavens, and Thy glory over all the earth.
BrentonBe thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; and thy glory above all the earth.
GreekὙψώθητι ἐπὶ τοὺς οὐρανοὺς ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἡ δόξα σου.
KJVBe thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
JPSBe Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Thy glory be above all the earth.