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.


Yahweh! how have mine adversaries multiplied, Multitudes, are rising against me;

Multitudes, are saying of my soul,—No salvation for him in God. [Selah.]

But, thou, Yahweh, art a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter up of my head.

With my voice—unto Yahweh, do I cry, and he hath answered me out of his holy mountain. [Selah.]

I, laid me down and slept,—I awoke, Surely, Yahweh, sustaineth me!

I will not be afraid of myriads of people, who, round about, have set themselves against me.

Rise! Yahweh, Save me, my God. Surely thou hast smitten all my foes on the cheekbone, The teeth of the lawless, hast thou broken.

To Yahweh, belongeth Salvation! Upon thy people, be thy blessing. [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/rotherham/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/rotherham/psalms/chapter-27/6">Psalms 27:6</a>.