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.

Unto the end. For the people who have become far removed from the Sacred. Of David, with the inscription of a title, when the Philistines held him in Gath. Have mercy on me, O God, because man has trampled over me. All day long, he has afflicted me by fighting against me.

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

My enemies have trampled over me all day long. For those who make war against me are many.

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

From the height of the day, I will be afraid. But truly, I will hope in you.

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, I will praise my words. In God, I have put my trust. I will not fear what flesh can do to me.

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

All day long, they curse my words. All their intentions are for evil against me.

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

They will dwell and hide themselves. They will watch my heel, just as they waited for my soul;

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

because of this, nothing will save them. In your anger, you will crush the people.

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.

O God, I have announced my life to you. You have placed my tears in your sight, and even in your promise.

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

Then my enemies will be turned back. On whatever day that I call upon you, behold, I know that you are my God.

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

In God, I will praise the word. In the Lord, I will praise his speech.

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

In God, I have hoped. I will not fear what man can do to me.

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

My vows to you, O God, are in me. I will repay them. Praises be to you.

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 you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from slipping, so that I may be pleasing in the sight of God, in the light of the living.