Psalms 56

1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up. Fighting all the day long he oppresses me.

2 My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me.

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

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.

4 In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

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

5 All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.

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

6 They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.

They gather themselves together. They hide themselves. They mark my steps, even as they have waited for my soul.

7 In spite of such sin, will they escape? In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.

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

8 You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle— are they not in Your book?

Thou number my wanderings. Put thou my tears into thy bottle. Are they not in thy book?

9 Then my enemies will retreat on the day I cry for help. By this I will know that God is on my side.

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

10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,

In God I will praise his word. In Jehovah I will praise his word.

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

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

12 Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.

Thy vows are upon me, O God. I will render thank offerings to thee.

13 For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

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