Psalms 56

1 [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.

“For the leader of the music. To be sung to the tune of “The dumb dove among strangers.” A psalm of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.” Have pity upon me, O God! for man panteth for my life; My adversary daily oppresseth me!

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

Mine enemies daily pant for my life, And many are they who war proudly against me.

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

When I am in fear, I will put my trust in thee!

4 In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Through God shall I praise his word; In God do I put my trust; I will not fear; What can flesh do to me?

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

Every day they wrest my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil.

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

They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they watch my steps, Lying in wait for my life.

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

Shall they escape by their iniquity? In thine anger cast down the people, O God!

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

Count thou my wanderings; Put my tears into thy bottle! Are they not recorded in thy book?

9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this, that God is for me.

When I cry to thee, my enemies shall turn back; This I know, that God is for me.

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

Through God shall I praise his word; I shall glory in the promise of Jehovah.

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

In God do I put my trust; I will not fear: What can man do to me?

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

Thy vows are upon me, O God! I will render praises to thee!

13 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.

For thou hast delivered me from death, Yea, my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living.