56 ⁽⁰⁾ For the leader. Set to “The Silent Dove in the Distance.” By David; a mikhtam, when the P’lishtim captured him in Gat:

^2 (1) Show me favor, God;
for people are trampling me down —
all day they fight and press on me.
^3 (2) Those who are lying in wait for me
would trample on me all day.
For those fighting against me are many.

Most High, ^4 (3) when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
^5 (4) In God — I praise his word —
in God I trust; I have no fear;
what can human power do to me?
^6 (5) All day long they twist my words;
their only thought is to harm me.
^7 (6) They gather together and hide themselves,
spying on my movements, hoping to kill me.
^8 (7) Because of their crime, they cannot escape;
in anger, God, strike down the peoples.
^9 (8) You have kept count of my wanderings;
store my tears in your water-skin —
aren’t they already recorded in your book?
^10 (9) Then my enemies will turn back
on the day when I call;
this I know: that God is for me.

^11 (10) In God — I praise his word —
in Adonai — I praise his word —
^12 (11) in God I trust; I have no fear;
what can mere humans do to me?

^13 (12) God, I have made vows to you;
I will fulfill them with thank offerings to you.

⁽¹⁾ How blessed are those whose offense is forgiven,
those whose sin is covered!
² How blessed those to whom Adonai imputes no guilt,
in whose spirit is no deceit!

³ When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
because of my groaning all day long;
⁴ day and night your hand was heavy on me;
the sap in me dried up as in a summer drought. (Selah)

⁵ When I acknowledged my sin to you,
when I stopped concealing my guilt,
and said, “I will confess my offenses to Adonai”;
then you, you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Selah)

⁶ This is what everyone faithful should pray
at a time when you can be found.
Then, when the floodwaters are raging,
they will not reach to him.

⁷ You are a hiding-place for me,
you will keep me from distress;
you will surround me
with songs of deliverance. (Selah)

⁸ “I will instruct and teach you
in this way that you are to go;
I will give you counsel;
my eyes will be watching you.”

⁹ Don’t be like a horse or mule
that has no understanding,
that has to be curbed with bit and bridle,
or else it won’t come near you.

¹⁰ Many are the torments of the wicked,
but grace surrounds those who trust in Adonai.
¹¹ Be glad in Adonai; rejoice, you righteous!
Shout for joy, all you upright in heart!