Psalms 3: A Morning Prayer of Trust

David's cry of confidence when many rise against him.

Psalms 3: Prayer Amid Many Enemies

Psalms 3 is David's prayer during a time when countless enemies surrounded him, following the trust theme begun in Psalms 2. He calls the LORD his shield and the lifter of his head, refusing to accept the taunt that God will not help him. The psalm moves from complaint to bold confidence within a few lines.


Jehovah, how my adversaries are increased! Many are those who rise up against me.

Many there are who say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

But thou, O Jehovah, are a shield about me, my glory and he who lifts up of my head.

I cry to Jehovah with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Selah.

I laid down and slept. I awoke, for Jehovah sustains me.

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people who have set themselves against me round about.

Arise, O Jehovah. Save me, O my God. For thou have smitten all my enemies upon the cheek bone. Thou have broken the teeth of the wicked.

Salvation belongs to Jehovah. Thy blessing be upon thy people. Selah.

The chapter's turning point comes when David says he lay down, slept, and awoke because the LORD sustained him, a picture echoed later in <a href="/bible/acv/psalms/chapter-4">Psalms 4</a>. It closes by declaring that salvation and blessing belong to the LORD, a phrase paralleled in <a href="/bible/acv/psalms/chapter-27/6">Psalms 27:6</a>.