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Psalm 57 · a question people ask

"My soul is bowed down" (57:6), and in the next verse, "My heart is steadfast" (57:7). Which is it?

In the text

The psalm says both, one after the other, and doesn't explain the change. What it does give is its reasons, each after for: "for my soul takes refuge in you" (57:1), and "For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies" (57:10). The loving kindness and truth of 57:10 are what the psalm has already said God "will send out" (57:3) (tap loving kindness, truth). And between the two lines it says of those who dug the pit, "They fall into the middle of it themselves" (57:6). Psalm 112 has the same Hebrew words, with his for my, of another: "His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD" (Psalm 112:7). Psalm 57 doesn't say whether the one line replaced the other, and these notes don't either.

The verses

“For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.”
Psalm 57:1 · World English Bible
“He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.”
Psalm 57:3 · World English Bible
“They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the middle of it themselves. Selah. My heart is steadfast, God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.”
Psalm 57:6-7 · World English Bible
“For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies.”
Psalm 57:10 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 57

Psalm 57: In the shadow of your wings

Psalm 57's prayer "Be exalted, God, above the heavens" comes in the middle, between the lions and the net (57:4-6), not only at the end. And the net they "prepared" (57:6) and the heart that is "steadfast" (57:7) are one Hebrew verb, kun.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions