Psalms 56

1 To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

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.

2 My enemies would daily swallow me up: for they are many that fight against me, O thou most High.

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

3 When I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

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

4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me.

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

5 Every day they pervert my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

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

6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

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

7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thy anger cast down the people, O God.

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

8 Thou numberest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

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

9 When I cry to thee, then shall my enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

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

10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word.

11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do to me.

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

12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises to thee.

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

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt thou not deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

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.