Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be above all the earth!
- BSB Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory cover all the earth.
- NKJV Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
- NASB Be exalted above the heavens, God; May Your glory be above all the earth.
- NLT Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David prays that God be exalted above the heavens and his glory over all the earth. It lifts the focus from danger to God's supreme glory.
Overview
In the midst of peril, David turns to worship, asking that God be magnified above heaven and earth. This refrain shows that his deepest desire is God's glory, not merely his own rescue. Such God-centered praise rises again at the psalm's close, framing his trouble with worship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Hab 2:14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
- Isa 6:3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
- Ps 72:19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
- Num 14:21But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
- Ps 57:11Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
- Ps 108:4–5For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
- Ps 113:4–6The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
- Hab 3:3God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
- Ps 148:13Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
- Ps 8:1O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
- Matt 6:9–10After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
- Isa 2:11The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
- Isa 37:20Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.
- Isa 2:17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
- Ps 21:13Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
- Isa 12:4And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
- 1 Chr 29:1Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 57:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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