TRV
Translation
King James Version
I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
Complete Jewish Bible
I will thank you, Adonai, among the peoples; I will make music to you among the nations.
Berean Standard Bible
I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing Your praises among the peoples.
American Standard Version
I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
World English Bible Messianic
I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations.
Geneva Bible (1599)
I will prayse thee, O Lord, among the people, and I wil sing vnto thee among the nations.
Young's Literal Translation
I thank Thee among the peoples, O Lord, I praise Thee among the nations.
In the KJVVerse 14,778 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 57 verses 7–11
7 ¶ My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
How strangely is the tune altered here! David's prayers and complaints, by the lively actings of faith, are here, all of a sudden, turned into praises and thanksgivings; his sackcloth is loosed, he is girded with gladness, and his hallelujahs are as fervent as his hosannas. This should make us in love with prayer, that, sooner or later, it will be swallowed up in praise. Observe,
I. How he prepares himself for the duty of praise (Psa 57:7): My heart is fixed, O God! my heart is fixed. My heart is erect, or lifted up (so some), which was bowed down, Psa 57:6. My heart is fixed, 1. With reference to God's providences; it is prepared for every event, being stayed upon God, Psa 112:7; Isa 26:3. My heart is fixed, and then none of these things move me, Act 20:24. If by the grace of God we be brought into this even composed frame of spirit, we have great reason to be thankful. 2. With reference to the worship of God: My heart is fixed to sing and give praise. It is implied that the heart is the main thing required in all acts of devotion; nothing is done to purpose, in religion, further than it is done with the heart. The heart must be fixed, fixed for the duty, fitted and put in frame for it, fixed in the duty by a close application, attending on the Lord without distraction.
II. How he excites himself to the duty of praise (Psa 57:8): Awake up my glory, that is, my tongue (our tongue is our glory, and never more so than when it is employed in praising God), or my soul, that must be first awakened; dull and sleepy devotions will never be acceptable to God. We must stir up ourselves, and all that is within us, to praise God; with a holy fire must that sacrifice be kindled, and ascend in a holy flame. David's tongue will lead, and his psaltery and harp will follow, in these hymns of praise. I myself will awake, not only, "I will not be dead, and drowsy, and careless, in this work," but, "I will be in the most lively frame, as one newly awakened out of a refreshing sleep." He will awake early to this work, early in the morning, to begin the day with God, early in the beginnings of a mercy. When God is coming towards us with his favours we must go forth to meet him with our praises.
III. How he pleases himself, and (as I may say) even prides himself, in the work of praise; so far is he from being ashamed to own his obligations to God, and dependence upon him, that he resolves to praise him among the people and to sing unto him among the nations, Psa 57:9. This intimates, 1. That his own heart was much affected and enlarged in praising God; he would even make the earth ring with his sacred songs, that all might take notice how much he thought himself indebted to the goodness of God. 2. That he desired to bring others in to join with him in praising God. He will publish God's praises among the people, that the knowledge, and fear, and love of God might be propagated, and the ends of the earth might see his salvation. When David was driven out into heathen lands he would not only not worship their gods, but he would openly avow his veneration for the God of Israel, would take his religion along with him wherever he went, would endeavour to bring others in love with it, and leave the sweet savour of it behind him. David, in his psalms, which fill the universal church, and will to the end of time, may be said to be still praising God among the people and singing to him among the nations; for all good people make use of his words in praising God. Thus St. John, in his writings, is said to prophesy again before many peoples and nations, Rev 10:11.
IV. How he furnishes himself with matter for praise, Psa 57:10. That which was the matter of his hope and comfort (God shall send forth his mercy and his truth, Psa 57:3) is here the matter of his thanksgiving: Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, great beyond conception and expression; and thy truth unto the clouds, great beyond discovery, for what eye can reach that which is wrapped up in the clouds? God's mercy and truth reach to the heavens, for they will bring all such to heaven as lay up their treasure in them and build their hopes upon them. God's mercy and truth are praised even to the heavens, that is, by all the bright and blessed inhabitants of the upper world, who are continually exalting God's praises to the highest, while David, on earth, is endeavouring to spread his praises to the furthest, Psa 57:9.
V. How he leaves it at last to God to glorify his own name (Psa 57:11): Be thou exalted, O God! The same words which he had used (Psa 57:5) to sum up his prayers in he here uses again (and no vain repetition) to sum up his praises in: "Lord, I desire to exalt thy name, and that all the creatures may exalt it; but what can the best of us do towards it? Lord, take the work into thy own hands; do it thyself: Be thou exalted, O God! In the praises of the church triumphant thou art exalted to the heavens, and in the praises of the church militant thy glory is throughout all the earth; but thou art above all the blessing and praise of both (Neh 9:5), and therefore, Lord, exalt thyself above the heavens and above all the earth. Father, glorify thy own name. Thou hast glorified it, glorify it yet again."
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 7–11. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 57
"Rise up, my glory" [Psalm 57:9]. He that had fled from the face of Saul into a cavern, says, "Rise up, my glory:" glorified be Jesus after His Passion. "Rise up, psaltery and harp." He calls upon what to rise? Two organs I see: but Body of Christ one I see, one flesh has risen again, and two organs have risen. The one organ then is the psaltery, the other the harp. Organs is the word used for all instruments of musicians. Not only is that called an organ, which is great, and blown into with bellows; but whatsoever is adapted to playing and is corporeal, whereof for an instrument the player makes use, is said to be an organ. But distinguished from one another are these organs.. ..What therefore do these two organs figure to us? For Christ the Lord our God is waking up His psaltery and His harp; and He says, "I will rise up at the dawn." I suppose that here ye now perceive the Lord rising. We have read thereof in the Gospel: [Mark 16:2] see the hour of the Resurrection. How long through shadows was Christ being sought? He has shone, be He acknowledged; "at the dawn" He rose again. But what is psaltery? What is harp? Through His flesh two kinds of deeds the Lord has wrought, miracles and sufferings: miracles from above have been, sufferings from below have been. But those miracles which He did were divine; but through Body He did them, through flesh He did them. The flesh therefore working things divine, is the psaltery: the flesh suffering things human is the harp. Let the psaltery sound, let the blind be enlightened, let the deaf hear, let the paralytics be braced to strength, the lame walk, the sick rise up, the dead rise again; this is the sound of the Psaltery. Let there sound also the harp, let Him hunger, thirst, sleep, be held, scourged, derided, crucified, buried. When therefore you see in that Flesh certain things to have sounded from above, certain things from the lower part, one flesh has risen again, and in one flesh we acknowledge both psaltery and harp. And these two kinds of things done have fulfilled the Gospel, and it is preached in the nations: for both the miracles and the sufferings of the Lord are preached.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 57:9 is a resounding declaration by King David, born from a place of profound distress yet culminating in an unwavering commitment to publicly extol God's glory. This verse marks a pivotal shift within Psalm 57, moving from David's desperate plea for mercy and protection in a cave to a resolute and outward-looking resolve to praise the Lord not only among his own people but prophetically, among all the nations of the earth. It encapsulates a profound trust in God's unfailing love and faithfulness, transforming personal affliction into a universal proclamation of divine majesty.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalm 57 is titled "A Michtam of David; when he fled from Saul in the cave," immediately setting a scene of intense personal peril. The psalm begins with a fervent cry for mercy and refuge, with David seeking shelter "under the shadow of thy wings" (Psalms 57:1). Despite the surrounding dangers and the "lion-like" enemies mentioned in Psalms 57:4, a dramatic shift occurs from lament to confident praise. This transition is evident in Psalms 57:7-8, where David's heart is "fixed" and he resolves to "awake early." Our verse, Psalms 57:9, serves as the outward expression of this internal resolve, preparing the way for the concluding declaration of God's exaltation "above the heavens" and "above all the earth" in Psalms 57:10-11.
Historical & Cultural Context: The superscription explicitly links this psalm to David's flight from King Saul, specifically when he was hiding in a cave. This event is detailed in 1 Samuel 24:3, where David, despite having the opportunity to kill Saul, chose to spare his life. This historical backdrop underscores the depth of David's distress and the profound nature of his faith. In ancient Israelite culture, public praise and worship were central to communal life, often taking place in the temple or during festivals. However, David's declaration to praise God "among the nations" transcends the immediate cultural confines, hinting at a broader, universal scope for God's glory that was not fully realized in his time but was deeply rooted in God's covenant promises to Abraham to bless "all the families of the earth" through his descendants (Genesis 12:3).
Key Themes: This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights Praise Amidst Adversity, demonstrating how genuine faith can transform a situation of fear and confinement into an occasion for worship. David's commitment to praise is not conditional on his circumstances but rooted in God's unchanging character. Secondly, it emphasizes Public and Universal Praise, moving beyond private devotion to a bold, outward declaration. The distinction between "the people" (referring to Israel) and "the nations" (the Gentiles) is crucial, anticipating the global reach of God's redemptive plan. This prophetic vision foreshadows the New Testament's call to make disciples of all nations. Thirdly, it underscores God's Sovereignty and Glory, as David's praise is ultimately founded on the recognition of God's supreme authority, His "mercy...great unto the heavens, and [His] truth unto the clouds" (Psalms 57:10).
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 57:9 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is Parallelism, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second line echoes and expands upon the first. "I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people" is paralleled by "I will sing unto thee among the nations." This structure not only reinforces the core message of praise but also broadens its scope, moving from the specific (Israel) to the universal (the nations). The verse also demonstrates a profound Shift in Tone or Movement within the psalm itself. Coming from a context of deep lament and fear, David's resolute declaration of praise signals a triumphant shift from despair to unwavering faith. Furthermore, there is an element of Prophetic Vision or Hyperbole in David's declaration to praise among the nations, given his immediate circumstance of hiding in a cave. This seemingly audacious claim, however, points to a divinely inspired foresight of God's ultimate plan to draw all peoples to Himself, transcending David's personal situation to encompass God's global redemptive purpose.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 57:9 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of God's glory and His redemptive plan. It reveals a God whose character—His mercy and truth—is so vast that it transcends all earthly boundaries, reaching "unto the heavens" and "unto the clouds" (Psalms 57:10). David's commitment to universal praise, even from a place of personal confinement, underscores the truth that God's renown is not meant to be contained within one nation but is to be declared to all of humanity. This verse is a powerful testament to the missional heart of God, foreshadowing the global scope of salvation that would ultimately be revealed in Christ. It reminds us that worship is not merely an inward spiritual exercise but an outward declaration, intended to draw all peoples into a relationship with their Creator.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's resolute declaration in Psalms 57:9, made from the depths of a cave while fleeing for his life, provides a powerful model for believers today. It challenges us to consider the posture of our hearts not only in times of ease but especially amidst adversity. True faith expresses itself in worship and witness even when circumstances are dire. We are called, like David, to move beyond private devotion to a public proclamation of God's goodness, both within our immediate communities ("among the people") and to the broader world ("among the nations"). This means actively sharing our faith, living lives that reflect God's glory, and participating in the global mission of the church, whether through direct involvement or faithful support. Our "cave" moments—our struggles, uncertainties, and fears—can become the very platforms from which God's praise resounds most powerfully, demonstrating His faithfulness to a watching world.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
How can David's resolve to praise "among the nations" be understood given his historical context of being confined to a cave?
Answer: David's declaration should be understood as a prophetic vision rather than an immediate, literal action. While physically confined, his spirit soared beyond his present circumstances, envisioning a future where God's glory would be universally recognized. This reflects the Spirit of God inspiring David to articulate a truth that transcended his time—that God's redemptive plan was always intended for all humanity, not just Israel. It foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to bless all nations, a theme that finds its ultimate realization in the New Testament through the global spread of the Gospel.
What is the significance of praising God "among the people" vs. "among the nations" in this verse?
Answer: The distinction highlights the expanding scope of God's glory and David's prophetic understanding of it. "Among the people" (H5971, ‘am) refers to David's immediate community, the covenant people of Israel. This signifies his commitment to lead his own nation in worship and to bear witness to God's faithfulness within his own cultural and religious context. "Among the nations" (H3816, lᵉʼôm), however, refers to the non-Israelite peoples, the Gentiles. This demonstrates a profound and forward-looking vision that God's praise is not to be confined to Israel but is destined to extend globally. It underscores the universal nature of God's redemptive plan, a theme that becomes central to the New Testament's Great Commission to make disciples of all ethnic groups.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 57:9 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David, though a king and prophet, could only declare his intent to praise God among the nations; it was Jesus who perfectly embodied and enacted this universal praise. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus revealed God's glory, mercy, and truth to the entire world, making a way for people from "every tribe and language and people and nation" to worship God (Revelation 5:9). His obedient sacrifice on the cross, the ultimate act of praise and submission to the Father, became the means by which God's name is now exalted "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion" (Ephesians 1:21). Furthermore, Jesus's Great Commission to His disciples—to "go and make disciples of all nations"—is the direct means by which David's prophetic declaration is continually realized. The church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, carries on this mission, bearing witness to Christ "in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8), ensuring that countless voices from every corner of the globe join in the chorus of praise, fulfilling David's ancient, Spirit-inspired resolve. Indeed, the vision of a multitude from "every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" (Revelation 7:9-10) is the glorious culmination of Psalms 57:9.