Psalm 56

Common English Bible

Psalm 56

For the music leader. According to “The Silent Dove of Distant Places.” A miktam^[a] of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 God, have mercy on me because I’m being trampled.
    All day long the enemy oppresses me.
²My attackers trample me all day long
    because I have so many enemies.
Exalted one, ³whenever I’m afraid,
    I put my trust in you—
⁴        in God, whose word I praise.
        I trust in God; I won’t be afraid.
    What can mere flesh do to me?

⁵All day long they frustrate my pursuits;
    all their thoughts are evil against me.
⁶They get together and set an ambush—
    they are watching my steps,
    hoping for my death.
⁷Don’t rescue them for any reason!
    In wrath bring down the people, God!

⁸You yourself have kept track of my misery.
    Put my tears into your bottle—
    aren’t they on your scroll already?
⁹Then my enemies will retreat when I cry out.
    I know this because God is mine.
¹⁰    God: whose word I praise.
        The Lord: whose word I praise.
¹¹I trust in God; I won’t be afraid.
    What can anyone do to me?

¹²I will fulfill my promises to you, God.
    I will present thanksgiving offerings to you
¹³    because you have saved my life from death,
    saved my feet from stumbling
        so that I can walk before God in the light of life.