To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam
of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.

This psalm was penned by David, when he fled from Saul in the cave; 1 Sam. 24; and contains, (1.) David’s earnest betaking of himself to God ­ upon whom all his dependence, was fixed, towards whom all his desires were bent, and from whom only he expected relief ­ for mercy amidst his great troubles, ver. 1-2. (2.) His complaints of the cruelty, malice, and calumnious deceit of his inveterate enemies, ver. 3-4, 6. (3.) His believing triumph in God; in which he prepares himself for praising God, excites himself to it, delights himself in it, and furnisheth himself with matter for it, ver. 7-10. (4.) Conscious of his own inability to praise God enough, he leaves it on God, to exalt and glorify himself, ver. 5-11.

While I sing, let me cry aloud for mercy; let me lay my spiritual and temporal adversities before the Lord; and let me triumph in the God of my salvation; and employ him to glorify his name in all the earth.

1 Be merciful to me, O God;
thy mercy unto me
Do thou extend; because my soul
doth put her trust in thee:

Yea, in the shadow of thy wings
my refuge I will place,
Until these sad calamities
do wholly overpass.

2 My cry I will cause to ascend
unto the Lord most high;
To God, who doth all things for me
perform most perfectly.

3 From heav’n he shall send down, and me
from his reproach defend
That would devour me: God his truth
and mercy forth shall send.

4 My soul among fierce lions is,
I firebrands live among,
Men’s sons, whose teeth are spears and darts,
a sharp sword is their tongue.

5 Be thou exalted very high
above the heav’ns, O God;
Let thou thy glory be advanced
o’er all the earth abroad.

6 My soul’s bowed down; for they a net
have laid, my steps to snare:
Into the pit which they have digged
for me, they fallen are.

7 My heart is fixed, my heart is fixed,
O God; I’ll sing and praise.
8 My glory wake; wake psalt’ry, harp;
myself I’ll early raise.

9 I’ll praise thee ‘mong the people, Lord;
‘mong nations sing will I:
10 For great to heav’n thy mercy is,
thy truth is to the sky.

11 O Lord, exalted be thy name
above the heav’ns to stand:
Do thou thy glory far advance
above both sea and land.