Psalms – Chapter 57

Old Testament12 Verses

Chapter Summary

Psalms 57 opens with the words: "Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title." David stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 12 verses, two threads run through the text: justice and care for the poor and sin and divine judgment. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title.

2If in very deed ye speak justice: judge right things, ye sons of men.

3For in your heart you work iniquity: your hands forge injustice in the earth.

4The wicked are alienated from the womb; they have gone astray from the womb: they have spoken false things.

5Their madness is according to the likeness of a serpent: like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ears:

6Which will not hear the voice of the charmers; nor of the wizard that charmeth wisely.

7God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord shall break the grinders of the lions.

8They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent his bow till they be weakened.

9Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun.

10Before your thorns could know the brier; he swalloweth them up, as alive, in his wrath.

11The just shall rejoice when he shall see the revenge: he shall wash his hands in the blood of the sinner.

12And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth.

Important Verses in Psalms 57

Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title.

Psalms 57:1

The wicked are alienated from the womb; they have gone astray from the womb: they have spoken false things.

Psalms 57:4

God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord shall break the grinders of the lions.

Psalms 57:7

And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth.

Psalms 57:12

Historical Context

Psalms belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for god's people at prayer in every age. Chapter 57 of 150 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a liturgical poem composed for Temple worship and personal prayer with 12 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. David appear at the center of the events recorded here. The passage starts with these words: "Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title." It concludes: "And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth. " In terms of historical background, The 150 Psalms are the inspired prayer book of Israel and of the Church, spanning every human emotion—praise, lament, thanksgiving, repentance, and hope. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

Who Wrote It

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists

When It Was Written

Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile

Catholic Commentary

This psalm is a prayer-poem that Israel sang in Temple worship and private devotion. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title." The passage repeatedly touches on justice and care for the poor.

Catholic exegesis reads Psalms 57 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). St. Gregory the Great and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1265).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • True conversion means turning away from sin and returning to God with our whole heart.

People in This Chapter

David1 mention

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Psalms Chapter 57 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Thomas Aquinas and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). The passage calls believers to grasp that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him.

May your reading of Psalms Chapter 57 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psalms Chapter 57 about?

Psalms 57 contains 12 verses. It opens with "Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title." and closes with "And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth. ". The book as a whole is liturgical poetry and prayer.

What is a key verse in Psalms 57?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Psalms Chapter 57?

This chapter mentions David.

Who wrote Psalms and when?

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists. Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

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