Psalm 57
Table of Psalms << Psalm 57 >> | ||||||||||||||
General information
Settings by composers
- Thomas Clark
- Awake my joy, awake I say (metrical Old Version, as a psalm tune)
- Awake up my glory, awake lute and harp (BCP, as an anthem)
- Joseph Key (in English, metrical Old Version)
- Ascanio Trombetti (v. 8-9, in Latin)
Text & translations
Latin text (or link to a text page) needs to be added.
Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer
English text
1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee : and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge, until this tyranny be over-past.
2 I will call unto the most high God : even unto the God that shall perform the cause which I have in hand.
3 He shall send from heaven : and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up.
4 God shall send forth his mercy and truth : my soul is among lions.
5 And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on fire : whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword
6 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens : and thy glory above all the earth.
7 They have laid a net for my feet, and pressed down my soul : they have digged a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it themselves.
8 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed : I will sing, and give praise.
9 Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp : I myself will awake right early.
10 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people : and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
11 For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens : and thy truth unto the clouds.
12 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens : and thy glory above all the earth.
Metrical 'Old Version' (John Hopkins)
English text
Take pity for thy promise sake,
Have mercy, Lord on me,
Because my soul doth her betake
Unto the help of thee.
Within the shadow of thy wings
I set myself full fast,
Till mischief, malice and like things
Be gone and over past.
I call unto the God most high
To whom I stick and stand,
I mean the God that will stand by
The cause I have in hand.
For he from heav'n hath sent his aid
To save me from their spite
That to devour me have assayed;
Ev'n mercy, truth and might.
I lead my life with lions fell
All set on wrath and ire
And with such wicked men I dwell
Who fret like flames of fire.
Their teeth are spears and arrows long,
As sharp as I have seen:
They wound and cut with their quick tongue
Like swords & weapons keen.
Set up and shew thyself, O God,
Above the heav'ns most bright;
Exalt thy praise on earth abroad,
Thy majesty and might.
They laid their net and did prepare
A privy cave and pit,
Wherein they thought my soul to snare,
But are fall'n into it.
My heart is set to praise the Lord,
In him to joy always;
My heart doth ever well accord
To sing his laud and praise.
Awake my joy, awake I say,
My lute, my harp, and string;
And I myself before the day
Will rise, rejoice, and sing.
Among the people I will tell
The goodness of my God,
And shew his praise that doth excel
In heathen lands abroad.
His mercy doth extend as far
As heaveds all are high,
His truth as high as any star
That shineth in the sky.
Set forth and shew thyself, O God,
Above the heav'ns most bright;
Exalt thyself on earth abroad,
Thy majesty and might.