Psalms 56

1 For the music director. According to “Dove on Distant Oaks.” A psalm (miktam) of David concerning the time the Philistines captured him in Gath. God, please be gracious to me, for people are persecuting me; my attackers fight against me all day long.

“To the chief musician upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, by David, a Michtham, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.” Be gracious unto me, O God; for man longeth to swallow me up; all the time he oppresseth me fighting.

2 My enemies chase me down all the time—there are many of them, attacking me in their arrogance.

Those that regard me with envy long to swallow [me] up all the time; for many are they that fight against me, O thou Most High.

3 But when I'm afraid, I trust in you.

The day [when] I am afraid, I will still trust in thee.

4 I thank God for his promises. I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

In God will I praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid: what can flesh do unto me?

5 They constantly twist my words against me; they spend all their time thinking of evil things to do to me.

All the day they wrest my words: against me are all their thoughts for evil.

6 They gather together in their hiding places to keep watch on me, hoping to kill me.

They come together in troops, they hide themselves, they are those that watch my heels, as though they hoped [to take] my soul.

7 Will they escape when they do so much evil? God, in anger bring these people down!

Because of their wrong-doing let me escape from them: in anger cast down the people, O God.

8 You've kept track of all my wanderings. You've collected all my tears in your bottle. You've kept a record of each one.

My wanderings hast thou well numbered: put thou my tears into thy bottle; behold, they are numbered by thee.

9 Then those who hate me will run away when I call for your help. For I know this: God is for me!

Then shall my enemies retire backward on the day when I call [on thee]: this I know—that God is for me.

10 I thank God for his promises. I thank the Lord for his promises.

In God will I praise the word: in the Lord will I praise the word.

11 I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

In God have I put my trust; I will not be afraid: what can man do unto me?

12 God, I will keep my promises to you. I will give thank offerings to you,

Upon me, O God, [rest] thy vows: I will pay thanksgiving offerings unto thee.

13 for you have saved me from death and kept me from falling. Now I walk in the presence of God, in the light that gives life.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death—yea, behold, my feet from slipping, that I may walk before God in the light of the life.