Psalms 56

1 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.

For the leader. On jonath elem rehokim. Of David. A michtam, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. O God, be gracious to me, for people trample upon me, all the day righting and pressing me.

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

All the day enemies trample me; many there be who contend with me bitterly.

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

In the day of my terror I trust in you.

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

In God I maintain my cause, in God I fearlessly trust. What can flesh do to me?

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

They torture me all the day, they ceaselessly plan to hurt me,

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

banded together in secret, watching my every step, as those who hope for my death.

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

Pay them out for their sin, O God, hurl down the strong in your anger.

8 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.

You yourself count my wanderings. Put in your bottle my tears are they not in your book?

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

Then shall my foes be turned back in the day that I call. Of this I am sure, because God is for me.

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

In God I maintain my cause, in the Lord I maintain my cause.

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

In God I fearlessly trust, what can people do to me?

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

Your vows are upon me, O God, I will render thank-offerings to you;

13 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.

because you have saved me from death, my feet from stumbling, to the end that I walk before God in the light of the living.