Psalms 56

1 “To the chief musician upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, by David, a Michtham, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.” Be gracious unto me, O God; for man longeth to swallow me up; all the time he oppresseth me fighting.

[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 Those that regard me with envy long to swallow [me] up all the time; for many are they that fight against me, O thou Most High.

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

3 The day [when] I am afraid, I will still trust in thee.

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

4 In God will I praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid: what can flesh do unto 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 All the day they wrest my words: against me are all their thoughts for evil.

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

6 They come together in troops, they hide themselves, they are those that watch my heels, as though they hoped [to take] my soul.

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

7 Because of their wrong-doing let me escape from them: in anger cast down the people, O God.

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

8 My wanderings hast thou well numbered: put thou my tears into thy bottle; behold, they are numbered by thee.

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

9 Then shall my enemies retire backward on the day when I call [on thee]: this I know—that God is for 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 praise the word: in the Lord will I praise the word.

In God, I will praise his word. In YHWH, I will praise his word.

11 In God have I put my trust; I will not be afraid: what can man do unto me?

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

12 Upon me, O God, [rest] thy vows: I will pay thanksgiving offerings unto thee.

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

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death—yea, behold, my feet from slipping, that I may walk before God in the light of the 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.