Psalm 3/Text/MT Expanded Paraphrase

Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Expanded Paraphrase
מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד בְּ֝בָרְח֗וֹ מִפְּנֵ֤י ׀ אַבְשָׁל֬וֹם בְּנֽוֹ׃	1	A psalm. By David, the anointed king of Israel. After David sinned against YHWH (2 Sam 11), YHWH said that he would bring trouble upon David from David's own house (2 Sam. 12:11). One of the members of David's house is Absalom, his third-born son. Absalom plotted a rebellion, gained a large following, and was proclaimed king in place of David. If David had stayed in Jerusalem, he and his men would have been captured by Absalom and the city would have been destroyed. So David told his men, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword" (2 Sam 15:14, NIV). So David and his men left Jerusalem. He prayed this psalm during the time when he was fleeing from Absalom, his son.
יְ֭הוָה מָֽה־רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י רַ֝בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי׃	2	YHWH, how my adversaries, led by my son Absalom, have become many!"The conspiracy has gained strength, and Absalom's following has continually increased" (cf. 2 Sam 15:12). Many are those rising against me.
רַבִּים֮ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י אֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים סֶֽלָה׃	3	Many are those who think that you no longer delight in me and that you have rejected me (cf. 2 Sam. 15:26; 16:8). For this reason, they are hope of saying about me, " God won't save him! There is no victory for him in God!" Selah.
וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי׃	4	But they are wrong. You have not rejected me. You have promised that your covenant loyalty would never leave me. So I trust in you. Despite what they say, I know that you will give me victory, for you, YHWH, are a shield for me, to protect me from their attacks and give me victory in the battle. You will restore my honor, which has been turned to shame ever since my own son usurped my throne, and you are the one who lifts my head, who will confer honor upon me and restore me to my former position.
ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֨נִי מֵהַ֖ר קָדְשׁ֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃	5	I trust in YHWH, because he has shown himself to be faithful time and time again. This is how it always happens: I call aloud to YHWH during times of trouble like what I am facing now, and he answers me from Zion, his holy mountain, and rescues me from my enemies. Selah.
אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃	6	Even last night, YHWH proved himself to be a faithful protector! Last night, even though my enemies are trying to kill me, I lay down in peace and fell asleep. I was able to fall asleep because I was confident in YHWH's protection. And, sure enough, I woke up without being harmed, because YHWH supports me.
לֹֽא־אִ֭ירָא מֵרִבְב֥וֹת עָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר סָ֝בִ֗יב שָׁ֣תוּ עָלָֽי׃	7	With YHWH as my protector, I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of armed people who have taken position against me all around to harm me.
ק֘וּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ הוֹשִׁ֘יעֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהַ֗י כִּֽי־הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבַ֣י לֶ֑חִי שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃	8	Instead, I will call on my God to save me: Rise up, YHWH, against those who are rising up against me! Save me, my God, and give me the victory that they say you won't give! I know you will rise up and save me, for this is what you have always done! In the past, you have struck all my enemies on the jaw, resulting in their public humiliation. You have broken wicked people's teeth, rendering them harmless, unable to devour me.
לַיהוָ֥ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה עַֽל־עַמְּךָ֖ בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ סֶּֽלָה׃	9	Victory is YHWH's! And YHWH is my God. And so, despite what my enemies are saying, I will have victory in God. For not only does YHWH determine who is victorious, but YHWH also shows favor to his people. Your blessing, YHWH, is not on your enemies, but on your people, your true people, those who have aligned themselves with your will and have supported me as your chosen king. Selah.