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.

TO THE OVERSEER. [SET] ON “A SILENT DOVE FAR OFF.” A MIKTAM OF DAVID, IN THE PHILISTINES’ TAKING HOLD OF HIM IN GATH. Favor me, O God, for man swallowed me up, All the day fighting he oppresses me,

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

My enemies have swallowed up all the day, For many [are] fighting against me, O Most High,

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

[In] the day I am afraid I am confident toward You.

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 praise His word, in God I have trusted, I do not fear what flesh does to me.

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

All the day they wrest my words, All their thoughts [are] for evil concerning me,

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

They assemble, they hide, they watch my heels, When they have expected my soul.

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

They escape by iniquity, In anger put 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?

You have counted my wandering, You place my tear in Your bottle, Are they not in Your scroll?

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 turn back my enemies in the day I call. This I have known, that God [is] for me.

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

In God I praise the word, In YHWH I praise the word.

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

In God I trusted, I do not fear what man does to me,

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

On me, O God, [are] Your vows, I repay thank-offerings to You.

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 You have delivered my soul from death, Do You not [keep] my feet from falling? To habitually walk before God in the light of the living!