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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 3

Psalm 3 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book I (Psalms 1–41). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

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Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 3

1A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me.

2Many there are who say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah.

3But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

4I cry to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5I laid myself down and slept. I awakened, for the LORD sustains me.

6I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side.

7Arise, LORD! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.

8Salvation belongs to the LORD. May your blessing be on your people. Selah.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 3

Psalm 3 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book I (Psalms 1–41). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book I (Psalms 1–41). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Praise, Lament, Wisdom. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 3

Psalm 3 contains 8 verses and about 144 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 8 closes: “Salvation belongs to the LORD. May your blessing be on your people. Selah.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include selah, people, psalm, david, fled, absalom. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 3

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 3:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes praise, with related themes of Praise, Lament, Wisdom. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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