I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "who is worthy to be praised" isn't just saying God deserves praise; it suggests David's prayers will include praise, a recognition of God's past faithfulness fueling his present requests. This intertwining of trust and thanksgiving is the powerful engine that leads to his assured deliverance.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is recounting a time of extreme danger and distress, where he felt completely surrounded and overwhelmed by his enemies. In this moment of desperation, he turned to God in prayer, and this verse is his confident declaration of faith and the anticipated outcome of that plea. The surrounding verses describe the severity of the threats he faced and how God ultimately delivered him, making this verse a pivotal point in his testimony of God's faithfulness.
Ever feel like your prayers are just a list of needs? This verse shows a powerful way to approach God that changes everything.
David declares, 'I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised.' This isn't just a statement about God's character; it's a strategic approach to prayer. The original Hebrew and ancient interpretations suggest that David isn't just asking God to be praised, but that his calling upon the Lord is intertwined with praise.
Think about it:
David is saved from his enemies. But why does he say this right after calling on God? It's all connected to who God is.
The second part of the verse, 'and I am saved from my enemies,' isn't just a happy coincidence. It's the direct result of calling upon the LORD. David isn't claiming he saved himself through his own might; he's testifying that his deliverance flows from the God he calls upon.
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This reveals a crucial truth:
This psalm likely emerged from David's seasoned experience as king, where 'enemies' weren't just external foes but also internal threats and the very real possibility of his kingdom collapsing. His cry to God isn't a first-time plea but a seasoned warrior's trust, born from countless battles and near-death experiences where only divine intervention brought salvation.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
David becomes King of Israel
After years of fleeing Saul, David is finally established as king over all Israel, a period marked by his ongoing conflicts with neighboring nations and internal challenges.
c. 1000 BC
David captures Jerusalem
David conquers the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem, establishing it as his capital city. This strategic victory solidifies his kingdom but also places him at the center of regional power struggles.
c. 990 BC
David's victories over surrounding nations
David wages successful military campaigns against the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, expanding Israel's territory and securing its borders, but also facing significant opposition.
c. 990 BC - 970 BC
David's reign faces internal and external threats
Despite his successes, David's reign is characterized by continuous conflict, including rebellions (like Absalom's) and ongoing skirmishes with enemy peoples, demanding constant reliance on God's deliverance.
This passage is the prose parallel to Psalm 18, showing how David's song of deliverance in Psalm 18 is rooted in real historical experiences of God saving him from his enemies.
Philippians 4:6Paul echoes the sentiment of combining prayer with thanksgiving when he instructs believers to make their requests known to God, reminding us that praise and prayer are often intertwined.
Romans 8:31This verse powerfully asserts that if God is for us, no opposition or enemy can stand against us, mirroring the psalmist's confidence that calling on God leads to salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:18This passage highlights that salvation comes through Christ, the power of God, reinforcing the idea that true deliverance is found in calling upon the Lord, who is indeed worthy of all praise.
Hebrews 11:6This verse states that without faith, it is impossible to please God, and that anyone who comes to Him must believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him, which is the very essence of David's prayer and expectation in Psalm 18:3.
calvinPsalms 18:3-6: "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."
- I will call upon the praised Jehovah, and I shall be saved from mine enemies. 4. The cords [390] of death had compassed me about; the torrents of wickedness [391] had made me afraid. 5. The cords of the grave [392] had compassed me about; the snares of death had prevented me. 6. In my distress I called upon Jehovah, and cried to my God: and he heard my voice from his temple, and my…
poolePsalms 18:3: "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."
Or, I did call—and was saved . For the future tense is commonly used for that which is past. And this seems best to agree with the whole context, which is to praise God for mercies already received.
The phrase "who is worthy to be praised" isn't just saying God deserves praise; it suggests David's prayers will include praise, a recognition of God's past faithfulness fueling his present requests. This intertwining of trust and thanksgiving is the powerful engine that leads to his assured deliverance.
David is recounting a time of extreme danger and distress, where he felt completely surrounded and overwhelmed by his enemies. In this moment of desperation, he turned to God in prayer, and this verse is his confident declaration of faith and the anticipated outcome of that plea. The surrounding verses describe the severity of the threats he faced and how God ultimately delivered him, making this verse a pivotal point in his testimony of God's faithfulness.
David is recounting a time of extreme danger and distress, where he felt completely surrounded and overwhelmed by his enemies. In this moment of desperation, he turned to God in prayer, and this verse is his confident declaration of faith and the anticipated outcome of that plea. The surrounding verses describe the severity of the threats he faced and how God ultimately delivered him, making this verse a pivotal point in his testimony of God's faithfulness.
"I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies." — The phrase "who is worthy to be praised" isn't just saying God deserves praise; it suggests David's prayers will include praise, a recognition of God's past faithfulness fueling his present request…
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Last reviewed October 2026