Psalm 56

A Call for God’s Protection

For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A Miktam of David. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.(A)

Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me;
he fights and oppresses me all day long.
My adversaries trample me all day,
for many arrogantly fight against me.[a](B)

When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.(C)
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?(D)

They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil.(E)
They stir up strife,[b] they lurk,
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.(F)
Will they escape in spite of such sin?
God, bring down the nations in wrath.(G)

You yourself have recorded my wanderings.[c]
Put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?(H)
Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.(I)
This I know: God is for me.(J)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere humans do to me?(K)

12 I am obligated by vows[d] to you, God;
I will make my thanksgiving sacrifices to you.(L)
13 For you rescued me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 56:2 Or many fight against me, O exalted one, or many fight against me from the heights
  2. 56:6 Or They attack
  3. 56:8 Or misery
  4. 56:12 Lit On me the vows

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.
My attackers trample me all day long
    because I have so many enemies.
Exalted one, whenever I’m afraid,
    I put my trust in you—
        in God, whose word I praise.
        I trust in God; I won’t be afraid.
    What can mere flesh do to me?

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

You yourself have kept track of my misery.
    Put my tears into your bottle—
    aren’t they on your scroll already?
Then 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.
11 I trust in God; I won’t be afraid.
    What can anyone do to me?

12 I 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

  1. Psalm 56:1 Perhaps inscription