For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me;

For my soul taketh refuge in thee:

Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge,

Until these calamities be overpast.

2 I will cry unto God Most High,

Unto God that performeth all things for me.

3 He will send from heaven, and save me,

When he that would swallow me up reproacheth; [Selah

God will send forth his lovingkindness and his truth.

4 My soul is among lions;

I lie among them that are set on fire,

Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,

And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let thy glory be above all the earth.

6 They 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

7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:

I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.

8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp:

I myself will awake right early.

9 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples:

I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

10 For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens,

And thy truth unto the skies.

11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let thy glory be above all the earth.

1 To the Overseer. -- `Destroy not.` -- A secret treasure of David, in his fleeing from the face of Saul into a cave. Favour me, O God, favour me, For in Thee is my soul trusting, And in the shadow of Thy wings I trust, Until the calamities pass over.

2 I call to God Most High, To God [who] is perfecting for me.

3 He sendeth from the heaven, and saveth me, He reproached -- who is panting after me. Selah. God sendeth forth His kindness and His truth.

4 My soul [is] in the midst of lions, I lie down [among] flames -- sons of men, Their teeth [are] a spear and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be Thou exalted above the heavens, O God, Above all the earth Thine honour.

6 A net they have prepared for my steps, Bowed down hath my soul, They have digged before me a pit, They have fallen into its midst. Selah.

7 Prepared is my heart, O God, Prepared is my heart, I sing and praise.

8 Awake, mine honour, awake, psaltery and harp, I awake the morning dawn.

9 I thank Thee among the peoples, O Lord, I praise Thee among the nations.

10 For great unto the heavens [is] Thy kindness, And unto the clouds Thy truth.

11 Be thou exalted above the heavens, O God. Above all the earth Thine honour!