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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren’t they in your book?

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

9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this: that 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 In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word.

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

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

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

12 Your vows are on me, God. 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 delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

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.