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: Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: all the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

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

Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long: for they be many that fight proudly against me.

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

What time I am afraid, I will put my 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 I will praise his word: in God have I 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 long they wrest 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, they mark my steps, even as they have waited for my soul.

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

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

8 You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Are not they in your book?

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

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

Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call: 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 will I praise [his] word: in the LORD will I praise [his] 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.

Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render thank 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: [hast thou] not [delivered] my feet from falling? that I may walk before God in the light of the living.