Psalm 3

"Victory is YHWH's!"

Purpose: To ask YHWH for protection and victory from many enemies.

Content: YHWH, save me! My enemies are many, but you are a shield for me.

Message: "Victory is YHWH's!" (Ps 3:9a; cf. Jonah 2:10).

Author: David

Videos

Poetic Features Video

Video forthcoming

Exegetical Issues Video

Video forthcoming

Overview

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 3.

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1. A psalm. By David.

When he was fleeing from Absalom, his son.

2. YHWH, how my adversaries have become many!

Many are those rising against me.

3. Many are those saying about me,

“There is no victory for him in God!” Selah.

4. But you, YHWH, are a shield for me,

my honor, and the one who lifts my head.

5. I call aloud to YHWH,

and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah.

6. I lay down and fell asleep.

I woke up, because YHWH supports me.

7. I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people

who have taken position against me all around.

8. Rise up, YHWH! Save me, my God!

For you have struck all my enemies on the jaw.

You have broken wicked people's teeth.

9. Victory is YHWH's!

Your blessing is on your people. Selah.

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 3, click here.

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 3 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

• v. 1
• v. 2
• v. 3
• v. 4
• v. 5
• v. 6
• v. 7
• v. 8
• v. 9

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Exegetical Issues

• The Verbal Semantics of Psalm 3:5
• The Verbal Semantics of Psalm 3:6
• The Verbal Semantics of Psalm 3:8b–c