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.

To the Overseer. — 'On the Dumb Dove far off.' — A secret treasure of David, in the Philistines' taking hold of him in Gath. Favour me, O God, for man swallowed me up, All the day fighting he oppresseth me,

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

Mine enemies have swallowed up all the day, For many [are] fighting against me, O most High,

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

The day I am afraid I am confident toward Thee.

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 praise His word, in God I have trusted, I fear not what flesh doth 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 they wrest my words, Concerning me all their thoughts [are] for evil,

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

They assemble, they hide, they watch my heels, When they have expected my soul.

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

By iniquity they escape, In anger the peoples put down, O 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.

My wandering Thou hast counted, Thou — place Thou my tear in Thy bottle, Are they not in Thy 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 turn back do mine enemies in the day I call. This I have known, that God [is] for me.

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

In God I praise the word, In Jehovah I praise the word.

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

In God I trusted, I fear not what man doth to me,

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

On me, O God, [are] Thy vows, I repay thank-offerings to Thee.

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 Thou hast delivered my soul from death, Dost Thou not my feet from falling? To walk habitually before God in the light of the living!