Verse
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Psalm 3:3

ESV But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
NIV But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
NASB But You, Lord, are a shield around me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
CSB But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
NLT But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
KJV But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
NKJV But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

What does Psalm 3:3 mean?

David is fleeing from a massive army, sent by his own son, Absalom. It is only through the influence of an ally that this army did not rush on him in a vulnerable moment (2 Samuel 17:15–16). Prior verses indicated that many were writing David's situation off as hopeless (Psalm 3:1–2). And yet, as he had in the past, David successfully overcame his enemies' threats and taunts by trusting in the Lord.

He addresses the Lord as a shield around him, his glory, and the lifter up of his head. Just as a shield protects a warrior from swords, arrows, darts, and spears, so David envisions the Lord protecting him from his enemies. This is the same confidence David expressed as a youth, when he confronted Goliath. At that time, he called out to Goliath, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand…For the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hand" (1 Samuel 17:45–47).

The Lord was David's boast, and David fully expected Him to restore him to his position as king of Israel.
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