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56 (0) For the leader. Set to “The Silent Dove in the Distance.” By David; a mikhtam, when the P’lishtim captured him in Gat:

(1) Show me favor, God;
for people are trampling me down —
all day they fight and press on me.
(2) Those who are lying in wait for me
would trample on me all day.
For those fighting against me are many.

Most High, (3) when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
(4) In God — I praise his word —
in God I trust; I have no fear;
what can human power do to me?
(5) All day long they twist my words;
their only thought is to harm me.
(6) They gather together and hide themselves,
spying on my movements, hoping to kill me.
(7) Because of their crime, they cannot escape;
in anger, God, strike down the peoples.
(8) You have kept count of my wanderings;
store my tears in your water-skin —
aren’t they already recorded in your book?
10 (9) Then my enemies will turn back
on the day when I call;
this I know: that God is for me.

11 (10) In God — I praise his word —
in Adonai — I praise his word —
12 (11) in God I trust; I have no fear;
what can mere humans do to me?

13 (12) God, I have made vows to you;
I will fulfill them with thank offerings to you.

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Pleading for Help and Grateful Trust in God.

For the music director; according to [a]Jonath elem rehokim. A [b]Mikhtam of David, [c]when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 Be gracious to me, God, for a man has [d](A)trampled upon me;
[e]Fighting all day long he (B)oppresses me.
My enemies have (C)trampled upon me all day long,
For [f]they are many who (D)fight proudly against me.
[g]When I am (E)afraid,
[h]I will (F)put my trust in You.
(G)In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
(H)What can mere [i]mortals do to me?
All day long they (I)distort my words;
All their [j](J)thoughts are against me for evil.
They [k](K)attack, they lurk,
They (L)watch my [l]steps,
As they have (M)waited to take my [m]life.
Because of their wickedness, will there be an (N)escape for them?
In anger (O)make the peoples fall down, God!

You (P)have taken account of my [n]miseries;
Put my (Q)tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in (R)Your book?
Then my enemies will (S)turn back (T)on the day when I call;
This I know, [o]that (U)God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
In the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 In God I have put my [p]trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can mankind do to me?
12 Your (V)vows are binding upon me, God;
I will render thanksgiving offerings to You.
13 For You have (W)saved my soul from death,
[q]Indeed (X)my feet from stumbling,
So that I may (Y)walk before God
In the (Z)light of the [r]living.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56 Title Or The silent dove of those who are far off; or The dove of the distant terebinths
  2. Psalm 56 Title Possibly Epigrammatic Poem; or Atonement Psalm
  3. Psalm 56 Title 1 Sam 21:10, 11
  4. Psalm 56:1 Or snapped at
  5. Psalm 56:1 Or A fighting man
  6. Psalm 56:2 Or many are fighting
  7. Psalm 56:3 Lit The day
  8. Psalm 56:3 Or I am one who puts
  9. Psalm 56:4 Lit flesh
  10. Psalm 56:5 Or purposes
  11. Psalm 56:6 Or stir up strife
  12. Psalm 56:6 Lit heels
  13. Psalm 56:6 Lit soul
  14. Psalm 56:8 Or wanderings
  15. Psalm 56:9 Or because
  16. Psalm 56:11 Or trust without fear
  17. Psalm 56:13 Or Have You not delivered
  18. Psalm 56:13 Or life