Psalm 57:4
New International Version
I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

New Living Translation
I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey— whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows, and whose tongues cut like swords.

English Standard Version
My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

Berean Standard Bible
My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

King James Bible
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

New King James Version
My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

New American Standard Bible
My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who devour, Among sons of mankind whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue is a sharp sword.

NASB 1995
My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows And their tongue a sharp sword.

NASB 1977
My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Legacy Standard Bible
My soul is among lions; I am lying down among those who breathe forth fire, Sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows And their tongue a sharp sword.

Amplified Bible
My life is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe out fire— The sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Christian Standard Bible
I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among devouring lions — people whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am surrounded by lions; I lie down with those who devour men. Their teeth are spears and arrows; their tongues are sharp swords.

American Standard Version
My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Contemporary English Version
My enemies are fierce, much worse than lions! They have spears and arrows instead of teeth, and they have sharp swords instead of tongues.

English Revised Version
My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My soul is surrounded by lions. I must lie down with man-eating lions. Their teeth are spears and arrows. Their tongues are sharp swords.

Good News Translation
I am surrounded by enemies, who are like lions hungry for human flesh. Their teeth are like spears and arrows; their tongues are like sharp swords.

International Standard Version
I am surrounded by lions. I lie down with those who burn with fire— that is, with people whose teeth are like spears and arrows— whose tongues are like sharp swords.

Majority Standard Bible
My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts?with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

NET Bible
I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among those who want to devour me; men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are a sharp sword.

New Heart English Bible
My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Webster's Bible Translation
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

World English Bible
My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
My soul [is] in the midst of lions, "" I lie down [among] flames—sons of men, "" Their teeth [are] a spear and arrows, "" And their tongue a sharp sword.

Young's Literal Translation
My soul is in the midst of lions, I lie down among flames -- sons of men, Their teeth are a spear and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Smith's Literal Translation
My soul is in the midst of lions: I shall lie down with the flaming, the sons of man, their teeth spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
and he hath delivered my soul from the midst of the young lions. I slept troubled. The sons of men, whose teeth are weapons and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he has rescued my soul from the midst of the young lions. I slept troubled. The sons of men: their teeth are weapons and arrows, and their tongue is a sharp sword.

New American Bible
I must lie down in the midst of lions hungry for human prey. Their teeth are spears and arrows; their tongue, a sharpened sword.

New Revised Standard Version
I lie down among lions that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He has delivered my life from the vicious as I slept in fear, and from the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongues sharp swords.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he saved my soul from the dogs and I slept as I was troubled. The teeth of the children of men are spears and arrows and their tongue like a sharp sword.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
My soul is among lions, I do lie down among them that are aflame; Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and he has delivered my soul from the midst of lions' whelps: I lay down to sleep, though troubled. As for the sons of men, their teeth are arms and missile weapons, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
In You My Soul Takes Refuge
3He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. Selah God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth. 4My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory cover all the earth.…

Cross References
Psalm 7:2
or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

Psalm 10:9
He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net.

Psalm 17:12
like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

Psalm 22:13
They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul.

Psalm 35:17
How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.

Psalm 55:21
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

Psalm 58:6
O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.

Psalm 64:3-4
who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, / ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.

Psalm 140:3
They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

Proverbs 30:14
there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.

Jeremiah 5:6
Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.

Ezekiel 22:25
The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.

Hosea 13:7-8
So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path. / Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.

Daniel 6:24
At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.


Treasury of Scripture

My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

among

Psalm 10:9
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

Psalm 17:12,13
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places…

Psalm 22:13-16
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion…

set

Judges 9:20
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

whose

Psalm 58:6
Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

John 4:10,11
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water…

Proverbs 30:14
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

tongue

Psalm 52:2
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.

Psalm 55:21
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Psalm 64:3
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

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Psalm 57
1. David in prayer fleeing unto God, complains of his dangerous case
7. He encourages himself to praise God














My soul is among the lions
In this phrase, the psalmist, David, uses vivid imagery to describe his perilous situation. The word "soul" in Hebrew is "nephesh," which often denotes the entire being or life of a person. David feels his very life is in danger. The "lions" symbolize fierce and powerful enemies, a common metaphor in ancient Near Eastern literature for those who are dangerous and threatening. Historically, lions were known in the region and were feared predators, making this metaphor particularly poignant. David's use of this imagery reflects his acute awareness of the danger surrounding him, yet it also sets the stage for his reliance on God for deliverance.

I lie among ravenous beasts
Here, "lie" suggests a sense of vulnerability and exposure. The Hebrew root "shakab" can mean to lie down, often implying rest or sleep, but in this context, it underscores a forced position of helplessness. "Ravenous beasts" further intensifies the threat, with "ravenous" indicating a voracious, insatiable hunger. This phrase paints a picture of David being surrounded by those who are not just dangerous, but also relentless in their pursuit of harm. The historical context of David's life, often pursued by King Saul and other enemies, gives weight to this imagery, as he frequently found himself in life-threatening situations.

with men whose teeth are spears and arrows
The metaphor of "teeth" as "spears and arrows" conveys the destructive power of his enemies' words and actions. In the ancient world, spears and arrows were common weapons of war, symbolizing aggression and the intent to harm. The Hebrew word for "teeth," "shen," can also imply sharpness, further emphasizing the lethal nature of the threats David faces. This imagery suggests that the danger is not only physical but also verbal, as words can wound as deeply as weapons. The psalmist's choice of metaphor highlights the intensity of the hostility he encounters.

whose tongues are sharp swords
The "tongues" being likened to "sharp swords" continues the theme of verbal assault. The Hebrew word for "tongue," "lashon," often represents speech or language. A "sharp sword" is a powerful image of cutting and piercing, suggesting that the words of David's enemies are intended to inflict deep emotional and psychological harm. In the biblical context, the power of words is a recurring theme, as seen in Proverbs and James, where speech is depicted as having the potential to build up or destroy. This phrase underscores the psalmist's experience of betrayal and slander, yet it also points to the need for divine intervention to protect and vindicate him.

(4) Them that are set on fire.--Rather, greedy ones (literally, lickers) in apposition to lions. The verse expresses the insecurity of the poet, who, his dwelling being in the midst of foes, must go to sleep every night with the sense of danger all round him. (See LXX.) How grandly the refrain in Psalm 57:8 rises from such a situation.

Verse 4. - My soul is among lions (comp. Psalm 7:2; Psalm 10:9; Psalm 17:12; Psalm 22:21, etc.). And I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men - literally, I lie on firebands, sons of men - whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. David occupies the cave (of Adullam?), while around him prowl lion-like men, whose fury is like that of firebrands, who threaten to devour him with their sharp teeth, and to pierce his soul with their cruel tongues.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
My soul
נַפְשִׁ֤י ׀ (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

[is] among
בְּת֥וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

the lions;
לְבָאִם֮ (lə·ḇā·’im)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3833: To roar, a lion,

I lie down
אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה (’eš·kə·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

with ravenous beasts
לֹ֫הֲטִ֥ים (lō·hă·ṭîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3857: To blaze up, flame

whose teeth
שִׁ֭נֵּיהֶם (nê·hem)
Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff

are spears
חֲנִ֣ית (ḥă·nîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2595: A lance

and arrows,
וְחִצִּ֑ים (wə·ḥiṣ·ṣîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2671: A piercer, an arrow, a wound, thunderbolt, the shaft of a, spear

whose tongues
וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם (ū·lə·šō·w·nām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3956: The tongue

are sharp
חַדָּֽה׃ (ḥad·dāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2299: Sharp

swords.
חֶ֣רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword


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OT Poetry: Psalm 57:4 My soul is among lions (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 57:3
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