Psalms 56

1 For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. [A Psalm] of David: Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: all the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

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 Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long: for they be many that fight proudly against me.

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

3 What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.

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

4 In God I will praise his word: in God have I 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 long they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

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

6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, even as they have waited for my soul.

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

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

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

8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy book?

You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren’t they in your book?

9 Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call: 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 [his] word: in the LORD will I praise [his] word.

In God, I will praise his word. In the LORD, 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 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render thank 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: [hast thou] not [delivered] my feet from falling? that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

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.