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 chief musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A psalm of David. A michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for men are attacking me! All the day long those who fight me press their assault.

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

My enemies trample me all day long; for there are many who arrogantly fight against me.

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

When I am afraid, I will put my 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, whose word I praise— in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid; what can mere man do to me?

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

All the day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

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

They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, and they mark my steps, just as they have waited for my life.

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

Do not let them escape doing iniquity. Bring down the peoples in your anger, God.

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 number my wanderings and put my tears into your bottle; 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 my enemies will turn back on the day that I call to you; this I know, that God is for me.

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

In God—whose word I praise, in Yahweh—whose word I praise,

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

in God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?

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

The duty to fulfill my vows to you is on me, God; I will give 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.

For you have rescued my life from death; you have kept my feet from falling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living.