Psalm 57: My Heart Is Fixed, O God
A prayer for shelter under God's wings that turns into confident praise.
Psalm 57 opens with David seeking refuge 'in the shadow of thy wings' while his soul dwells 'among lions' whose teeth are spears and tongues sharp swords, an image continuing the danger of Psalms 56.
Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title.
If in very deed ye speak justice: judge right things, ye sons of men.
For in your heart you work iniquity: your hands forge injustice in the earth.
The wicked are alienated from the womb; they have gone astray from the womb: they have spoken false things.
Their madness is according to the likeness of a serpent: like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ears:
Which will not hear the voice of the charmers; nor of the wizard that charmeth wisely.
God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord shall break the grinders of the lions.
They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent his bow till they be weakened.
Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun.
Before your thorns could know the brier; he swalloweth them up, as alive, in his wrath.
The just shall rejoice when he shall see the revenge: he shall wash his hands in the blood of the sinner.
And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth.