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.


A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

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

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

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

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is 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/kjva/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/kjva/psalms/chapter-27/6">Psalms 27:6</a>.