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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 56
Contemporary English Version

(For the music leader. To the tune “A Silent Dove in the Distance.”[a] A special psalm by David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.)

A Prayer of Trust in God

1 (A) Have pity, God Most High!
    My enemies chase me all day.
2 Many of them are pursuing
    and attacking me,
3 but even when I am afraid,
    I keep on trusting you.
4 I praise your promises!
I trust you and am not afraid.
    No one can harm me.

5 Enemies spend the whole day
    finding fault with me;
all they think about
    is how to do me harm.
6 They attack from ambush,
watching my every step
    and hoping to kill me.
7 They won't get away[b]
    with these crimes, God,
because when you get angry,
    you destroy people.

8 You have kept record
    of my days of wandering.
You have stored my tears
in your bottle
    and counted each of them.

9 When I pray, Lord God,
    my enemies will retreat,
because I know for certain
    that you are with me.
10 I praise your promises!
11 I trust you and am not afraid.
    No one can harm me.

12 I will keep my promises
to you, my God,
    and bring you gifts.
13 You protected me from death
    and kept me from stumbling,
so that I would please you
and follow the light
    that leads to life.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56 A Silent … Distance: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  2. 56.7 They … away: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
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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

  1. Psalm 56:1 Heb. Jonath Elem Rechokim
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Psalm 56
International Standard Version

To the Director: A special Davidic psalm[a] to the tune of[b] “A Silent Dove Far Away,” when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

A Prayer about Trust in God

56 Have mercy on me, God,
    because men have harassed me.
        Those who oppress me have fought against me all day long.
2 Those who watch me all day have harassed me,
    for there are many who fight against me out of conceit.

3 On days when I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I put my trust.
        I will not fear what mortal man[c] can do to me.

5 All day long people[d] distort what I say;
    all their schemes against me are for evil purposes.
6 They gather together
    and hide in ambush.
They watch my every step
    as they lie in wait for my life.
7 Cast them away because of their wickedness.
    In wrath, God, cast down these[e] people!

8 You have kept count of my wanderings.
    Put my tears in your bottle—
        have not you recorded them in your book?

9 My enemies will retreat when I call on you.[f]
    This has been my experience,
        because God is with me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I will put my trust.
    I will not fear what mortal man can do to me.

12 God, I have taken vows before you;[g]
    therefore I will offer thanksgiving sacrifices to you.
13 For you have delivered me[h] from death
    and my feet from stumbling,
        so that I may walk before God in the light of the living!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56:1 The Heb. reads miktam
  2. Psalm 56:1 Lit. David according to
  3. Psalm 56:4 Lit. what flesh
  4. Psalm 56:5 Lit. they
  5. Psalm 56:7 The Heb. lacks these
  6. Psalm 56:9 The Heb. lacks on you
  7. Psalm 56:12 Lit. your vows are upon me
  8. Psalm 56:13 Or my soul
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