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Psalm 56
The Voice

Psalm 56

For the worship leader. A prayer[a] of David to the tune “Silent Dove in the Distance,”[b] when the Philistine oppressors seized him in Gath.

Psalm 56 brings to mind the time when David fled from Saul and sought help from the Philistines, his former enemies (1 Samuel 21:10–15). In his time of panic and fear, David found courage in trusting God to do what could not be done by human power and ingenuity alone.

1 Show mercy to me, O God, because people are crushing me—
    grinding me down like dirt underfoot—all day long.
    No matter what I do, I can’t get myself out from under them.
2 My enemies are crushing me, yes all day long, O Highest of High,
    for many come proud and raise their hands against me.
3 When struck by fear,
    I let go, depending securely upon You alone.
4 In God—whose word I praise—
    in God I place my trust. I shall not let fear come in,
    for what can measly men do to me?
5 All day long they warp my words;
    all their thoughts against me are mangled by evil.
6 They conspire, then lurk about.
    They eye my every move,
Waiting to steal my very life.
7 Because they are wicked through and through, drag them out.
    In Your just anger, O God, cast them down!

8 You have taken note of my journey through life,
    caught each of my tears in Your bottle.
    But God, are they not also blots on Your book?
9 Then my enemies shall turn back and scatter
    on the day I call out to You.
    This I know for certain: God is on my side.
10 In God whose word I praise
    and in the Eternal whose word I praise—
11 In God I have placed my trust. I shall not let fear come in,
    for what can measly men do to me?

12 I am bound by Your promise, O God.
    My life is my offering of thanksgiving to You,
13 For You have saved my soul from the darkness of death,
    steadied my feet from stumbling
So I might continue to walk before God,
    embraced in the light of the living.

Footnotes

  1. 56:title Hebrew, miktam, meaning is uncertain.
  2. 56:title Hebrew, yonath elem rehokim, meaning is uncertain.
Listen to Psalm 56, Psalm 57
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Psalm 56
New International Version

Psalm 56[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me,(A) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(B)
    all day long they press their attack.(C)
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;(D)
    in their pride many are attacking me.(E)

3 When I am afraid,(F) I put my trust in you.(G)
4     In God, whose word I praise—(H)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(I)
    What can mere mortals do to me?(J)

5 All day long they twist my words;(K)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire,(L) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,(M)
    hoping to take my life.(N)
7 Because of their wickedness do not[c] let them escape;(O)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(P)

8 Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll[d](Q)—
    are they not in your record?(R)
9 Then my enemies will turn back(S)
    when I call for help.(T)
    By this I will know that God is for me.(U)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows(V) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(W)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.(X)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
  2. Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
  4. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
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Psalm 55
Psalm 57
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Psalm 57
The Voice

Psalm 57

For the worship leader. A prayer[a] of David to the tune “Do Not Destroy,”[b] when he hid from Saul in a cave.

This individual lament refers back to those perilous times when David fled from Saul and hid in caves (1 Samuel 22; 24). David found real security not in the hidden recesses of the caves but in the shadow of God’s wings.

1 Mercy. May Your mercy come to me, O God,
    for my soul is safe within You, the guardian of my life.
I will seek protection in the shade of Your wings
    until the destruction has passed.
2 I cry out to God, the Most High,
    to God who always does what is good for me.
3 Out of heaven my rescue comes.
    He dispatches His mercy and truth
And goes after whoever tries to run over me.

[pause][c]

4 I am surrounded by lions;
    I lie in a den of ravenous beasts.
Those around me have spears and arrows for teeth,
    a sharpened blade for a tongue.

5 O God, be lifted up above the heavens;
    may Your glory cover the earth.

6 Yet my foes cast a net to catch my feet and bring me to my knees.
    I am weary from all of this.
They dug a pit to snare me
    but fell into their own trap.

[pause]

7 My heart is ready, O God;
    my heart is ready,
And I will sing!
    Yes, I will sing praise!
8 Wake up, my glory!
    Wake up, harp and lyre;
    I will stir the sleepy dawn with praise!
9 I will offer You my thanks, O Lord, before the nations of the world;
    I will sing of Your greatness no matter where I am.
10 For Your amazing mercy ascends far into the heavens;
    Your truth rises above the clouds.
11 O God, be lifted up above the heavens;
    may Your glory cover the earth.

Footnotes

  1. 57:title Hebrew, miktam, meaning is uncertain.
  2. 57:title Hebrew, al-tashheth, meaning is uncertain.
  3. 57:3 Literally, selah, likely a musical direction from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up”
Close NIV

Psalm 57
New International Version

Psalm 57[a](A)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(B)

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.(C)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(D)
    until the disaster has passed.(E)

2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(F)
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,(G)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[c](H)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(I)

4 I am in the midst of lions;(J)
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.(K)

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.(L)

6 They spread a net for my feet(M)—
    I was bowed down(N) in distress.
They dug a pit(O) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.(P)

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;(Q)
    I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!(R)
    I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(S)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(T)
    let your glory be over all the earth.(U)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
  2. Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
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Psalm 56
Psalm 58
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