Psalm 56
Authorized (King James) Version
Psalm 56
To the chief Musician upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.
1 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up;
he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up:
for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust;
I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Every day they wrest my words:
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather themselves together,
they hide themselves,
they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity?
in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
8 Thou tellest my wanderings:
put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back:
this I know; for God is for me.
10 In God will I praise his word:
in the Lord will I praise his word.
11 In God have I put my trust:
I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 Thy vows are upon me, O God:
I will render praises unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death:
wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
Psalm 56
New King James Version
Prayer for Relief from Tormentors
To the Chief Musician. Set to [a]“The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the (A)Philistines captured him in Gath.
56 Be (B)merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;
Fighting all day he oppresses me.
2 My enemies would (C)hound me all day,
For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.
3 Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
4 In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
(D)I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?
5 All day they twist my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather together,
They hide, they mark my steps,
When they lie in wait for my life.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity?
In anger cast down the peoples, O God!
8 You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
(E)Are they not in Your book?
9 When I cry out to You,
Then my enemies will turn back;
This I know, because (F)God is for me.
10 In God (I will praise His word),
In the Lord (I will praise His word),
11 In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
12 Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God;
I will render praises to You,
13 (G)For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the (H)light of the living?
Footnotes
- Psalm 56:1 Heb. Jonath Elem Rechokim
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
