Psalm 3
1A psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.*a
I
2How many are my foes, LORD!
How many rise against me!
3*How many say of me,
"There is no salvation for him in God."b
Selah
4But you, LORD, are a shield around me;
my glory, you keep my head high.c
II
5With my own voice I will call out to the LORD,
and he will answer me from his holy mountain.
Selah
6I lie down and I fall asleep,
[and] I will wake up, for the LORD sustains me.d
7I do not fear, then, thousands of people
arrayed against me on every side.
III
8Arise, LORD! Save me, my God!
For you strike the cheekbone of all my foes;
you break the teeth of the wicked.e
9Salvation is from the LORD!
May your blessing be upon your people!f
Selah
* [Psalm 3] An individual lament complaining of enemies who deny that God will come to the rescue (Ps 3:2–3). Despite such taunts the psalmist hopes for God's protection even in sleep (Ps 3:4–7). The Psalm prays for an end to the enemies' power to speak maliciously (Ps 3:8) and closes peacefully with an expression of trust (Ps 3:9).