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Trusting God for Help

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Dove in the Distant Oak.” A miktam [C perhaps “inscription”] of David when the Philistines ·captured [seized] him in Gath [C referring to the episode in 1 Sam. 21:10–15 or to an unrecorded event].

56 God, be ·merciful [gracious] to me because people are ·chasing [trampling; hounding; snapping at] me;
    the battle has ·pressed [harrassed] me all day long.
My enemies have ·chased [trampled on; hounded; snapped at] me all day;
    there are many proud people fighting me.
When I am afraid,
    I will ·trust [have confidence in] you.
I praise God for his word.
    I ·trust [have confidence in] God, so I am not afraid.
What can ·human beings [L flesh] do to me?

All day long they ·twist [find fault with] my words;
    all their evil ·plans [or thoughts] are against me.
They ·wait [or attack; or strive]. They hide.
    They watch my ·steps [L heels],
    hoping to kill me.
God, do not let them escape;
    ·punish [L bring down] the ·foreign nations [peoples] in your anger.
You have ·recorded [recounted] my ·troubles [wanderings].
    You have ·kept a list of my tears [L put my tears in your bottle].
Aren’t they in your records?

On the day I call for help, my enemies will ·be defeated [L turn back].
    I know that God is on my side.
10 I praise God for his word to me;
    I praise the Lord for his word.
11 I ·trust [have confidence] in God. I will not be afraid.
    What can people do to me?

12 God, I must keep my ·promises [vows] to you.
    I will give you my ·offerings to thank you [thank offerings],
13 because you have ·saved [protected] me from death.
    You have kept ·me from being defeated [L my feet from falling].
So I will walk ·with [L in the presence of] God
    in light ·among [of] the living.

Pleading for Help and Grateful Trust in God.

For the music director; according to [a]Jonath elem rehokim. A [b]Mikhtam of David, [c]when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 Be gracious to me, God, for a man has [d](A)trampled upon me;
[e]Fighting all day long he (B)oppresses me.
My enemies have (C)trampled upon me all day long,
For [f]they are many who (D)fight proudly against me.
[g]When I am (E)afraid,
[h]I will (F)put my trust in You.
(G)In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
(H)What can mere [i]mortals do to me?
All day long they (I)distort my words;
All their [j](J)thoughts are against me for evil.
They [k](K)attack, they lurk,
They (L)watch my [l]steps,
As they have (M)waited to take my [m]life.
Because of their wickedness, will there be an (N)escape for them?
In anger (O)make the peoples fall down, God!

You (P)have taken account of my [n]miseries;
Put my (Q)tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in (R)Your book?
Then my enemies will (S)turn back (T)on the day when I call;
This I know, [o]that (U)God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
In the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 In God I have put my [p]trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can mankind do to me?
12 Your (V)vows are binding upon me, God;
I will render thanksgiving offerings to You.
13 For You have (W)saved my soul from death,
[q]Indeed (X)my feet from stumbling,
So that I may (Y)walk before God
In the (Z)light of the [r]living.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56 Title Or The silent dove of those who are far off; or The dove of the distant terebinths
  2. Psalm 56 Title Possibly Epigrammatic Poem; or Atonement Psalm
  3. Psalm 56 Title 1 Sam 21:10, 11
  4. Psalm 56:1 Or snapped at
  5. Psalm 56:1 Or A fighting man
  6. Psalm 56:2 Or many are fighting
  7. Psalm 56:3 Lit The day
  8. Psalm 56:3 Or I am one who puts
  9. Psalm 56:4 Lit flesh
  10. Psalm 56:5 Or purposes
  11. Psalm 56:6 Or stir up strife
  12. Psalm 56:6 Lit heels
  13. Psalm 56:6 Lit soul
  14. Psalm 56:8 Or wanderings
  15. Psalm 56:9 Or because
  16. Psalm 56:11 Or trust without fear
  17. Psalm 56:13 Or Have You not delivered
  18. Psalm 56:13 Or life