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.

Footnotes

Psalm 56:1 Perhaps inscription

Psalm 63

Common English Bible

Psalm 63

A psalm of David, when he was in the Judean desert.

63 God! My God! It’s you—
    I search for you!
    My whole being^[a] thirsts for you!
    My body desires you
        in a dry and tired land,
        no water anywhere.
²Yes, I’ve seen you in the sanctuary;
    I’ve seen your power and glory.
³My lips praise you
    because your faithful love
    is better than life itself!
⁴So I will bless you as long as I’m alive;
    I will lift up my hands in your name.

⁵I’m fully satisfied—
    as with a rich dinner.
My mouth speaks praise with joy on my lips—
⁶    whenever I ponder you on my bed,
    whenever I meditate on you
        in the middle of the night—
⁷    because you’ve been a help to me and I shout for joy in the protection of your wings.
⁸My whole being clings to you;
    your strong hand upholds me.

⁹But what about those people who want to destroy me?
    Let them go into the bowels of the earth!
¹⁰    Let their blood flow by the sword!
    Let them be food for wild jackals!
¹¹But the king should rejoice in God;
    everyone who swears by God should give praise
        when the mouths of liars are shut for good.