In God I Trust

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A (A)Miktam[a] of David, when the (B)Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 (C)Be gracious to me, O God, for man (D)tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;
my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
When I am afraid,
    I (E)put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; (F)I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

All day long they injure my cause;[b]
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They (G)stir up strife, they (H)lurk;
    they (I)watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.
For their crime will they escape?
    (J)In wrath (K)cast down the peoples, O God!

You have kept count of my tossings;[c]
    (L)put my tears in your bottle.
    (M)Are they not in your book?
Then my enemies will turn back
    (N)in the day when I call.
    This I know, that[d] (O)God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; (P)I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I must perform my (Q)vows to you, O God;
    I will (R)render thank offerings to you.
13 (S)For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
(T)that I may walk before God
    (U)in the light of life.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 56:5 Or they twist my words
  3. Psalm 56:8 Or wanderings
  4. Psalm 56:9 Or because

Psalm 56

A Call for God’s Protection

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

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

When I am afraid,
I will trust in You.(C)
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?(D)

They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil.(E)
They stir up strife,[c] 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.[d]
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your records?(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 fear.
What can man do to me?(K)

12 I am obligated by vows[e] to You, God;
I will make my thank offerings to You.(L)
13 For You delivered me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life.(M)

Footnotes

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