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.

`In Ebreu thus, To the ouercomyng on the doumb culuer of fer drawing awei, the comely song of Dauid, whanne Filisteis helden hym in Geth. `In Jeroms translacioun thus, To the ouercomer for the doumb culuer, for it yede awei fer. Dauid meke and symple made this salm, whanne Palesteyns helden hym in Geth. God, haue thou merci on me, for a man hath defoulid me; al dai he impugnyde, and troublide me.

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

Myn enemyes defouliden me al dai; for manye fiyteris weren ayens me.

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

Of the hiynesse of dai Y schal drede; but God Y schal hope 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 Y schal preise my wordis; Y hopide in God, Y schal not drede what thing fleisch schal do to me.

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

Al dai thei cursiden my wordis; ayens me alle her thouytis weren in to yuel.

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

Thei schulen dwelle, and schulen hide; thei schulen aspie myn heele.

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

As thei abiden my lijf, for nouyt schalt thou make hem saaf; in ire thou schalt breke togidre puplis.

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

God, Y schewide my lijf to thee; thou hast set my teeris in thi siyt. As and in thi biheest, Lord;

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

thanne myn enemyes schulen be turned abak. In what euere dai Y schal inwardli clepe thee; lo! Y haue knowe, that thou art my God.

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

In God Y schal preise a word; in the Lord Y schal preyse a word.

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

Y schal hope in God; Y schal not drede what thing a man schal do to me.

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

God, thin auowis ben in me; whiche Y schal yelde heriyngis 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 hast delyuerid my lijf fro deth, and my feet fro slidyng; that Y pleese bifore God in the liyt of hem that lyuen.