Psalms 56

1 To the chief music-maker; put to Jonath elem rehokim. Of David. Michtam. When the Philistines took him in Gath. Have mercy on me, O God, for man is attempting my destruction; every day he makes cruel attacks against 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 haters are ever ready to put an end to me; great numbers are lifting themselves up against me.

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

3 In the time of my fear, I will have faith in you.

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

4 In God will I give praise to his word; in God have I put my hope; I will have no fear of what flesh may 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 make wrong use of 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 come together, they are waiting in secret places, they take note of my steps, they are waiting for my soul.

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

7 By evil-doing they will not get free from punishment. In wrath, O God, let the peoples be made low.

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

8 You have seen my wanderings; put the drops from my eyes into your bottle; are they not in your record?

You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren't they in your book?

9 When I send up my cry to you, my haters will be turned back; I am certain of this, for God is with 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 give praise to his word; in the Lord will I give praise to his word.

In God, I will praise his word. In the LORD, I will praise his word.

11 In God have I put my hope, I will have no fear of what man may do to me.

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

12 I keep the memory of my debt to you, O God; I will give you the offerings of praise.

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

13 Because you have taken my soul from the power of death; and kept my feet from falling, so that I may be walking before God in the light of life.

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.