Psalms 56

1 Unto the end. For the people who have become far removed from the Sacred. Of David, with the inscription of a title, when the Philistines held him in Gath. Have mercy on me, O God, because man has trampled over me. All day long, he has afflicted me by fighting against me.

For the music director. According to “Dove on Distant Oaks.” A psalm (miktam) of David concerning the time the Philistines captured him in Gath. God, please be gracious to me, for people are persecuting me; my attackers fight against me all day long.

2 My enemies have trampled over me all day long. For those who make war against me are many.

My enemies chase me down all the time—there are many of them, attacking me in their arrogance.

3 From the height of the day, I will be afraid. But truly, I will hope in you.

But when I'm afraid, I trust in you.

4 In God, I will praise my words. In God, I have put my trust. I will not fear what flesh can do to me.

I thank God for his promises. I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

5 All day long, they curse my words. All their intentions are for evil against me.

They constantly twist my words against me; they spend all their time thinking of evil things to do to me.

6 They will dwell and hide themselves. They will watch my heel, just as they waited for my soul;

They gather together in their hiding places to keep watch on me, hoping to kill me.

7 because of this, nothing will save them. In your anger, you will crush the people.

Will they escape when they do so much evil? God, in anger bring these people down!

8 O God, I have announced my life to you. You have placed my tears in your sight, and even in your promise.

You've kept track of all my wanderings. You've collected all my tears in your bottle. You've kept a record of each one.

9 Then my enemies will be turned back. On whatever day that I call upon you, behold, I know that you are my God.

Then those who hate me will run away when I call for your help. For I know this: God is for me!

10 In God, I will praise the word. In the Lord, I will praise his speech.

I thank God for his promises. I thank the Lord for his promises.

11 In God, I have hoped. I will not fear what man can do to me.

I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

12 My vows to you, O God, are in me. I will repay them. Praises be to you.

God, I will keep my promises to you. I will give thank offerings to you,

13 For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from slipping, so that I may be pleasing in the sight of God, in the light of the living.

for you have saved me from death and kept me from falling. Now I walk in the presence of God, in the light that gives life.