Psalms 56

1 [For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Silent Dove in Distant Lands." A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.] Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.

For the chief musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A psalm of David. A michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for men are attacking me! All the day long those who fight me press their assault.

2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.

My enemies trample me all day long; for there are many who arrogantly fight against me.

3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

4 In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

In God, whose word I praise— in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid; what can mere man do to me?

5 All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.

All the day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They conspire and lurk, watching my steps, they are eager to take my life.

They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, and they mark my steps, just as they have waited for my life.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.

Do not let them escape doing iniquity. Bring down the peoples in your anger, God.

8 You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren't they in your book?

You number my wanderings and put my tears into your bottle; are they not in your book?

9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this, that God is for me.

Then my enemies will turn back on the day that I call to you; this I know, that God is for me.

10 In God, I will praise his word. In the LORD, I will praise his word.

In God—whose word I praise, in Yahweh—whose word I praise,

11 I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

in God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?

12 Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.

The duty to fulfill my vows to you is on me, God; I will give thank offerings to you.

13 For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

For you have rescued my life from death; you have kept my feet from falling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living.