< Psalms 56 >
1 To the Chief Musician. Upon "The Dove of God from the distant Sea." David’s. A precious Psalm. When the Philistines seized him in Gath. Show me favour, O God, For weak man hath panted for me, All the day, a fighter oppresseth me:
God, be merciful to me because men have harassed me; all day my enemies pursue me.
2 Mine adversaries have panted all the day, For, many, are fighting with me, loftily.
My enemies harass me all day long; there are many of them who proudly attack me.
3 What day I am afraid, I, unto thee will direct my confidence.
But whenever I am afraid, I trust in you.
4 In God, I will praise his cause, —In God, have I trusted, I will not fear, What can flesh do unto me?
God, I praise/thank you because you do what you have promised; I trust in you, and then I am not afraid. Ordinary humans certainly cannot [RHQ] harm me!
5 All the day, they wrest, my words, Against me, all their devices are for mischief;
All day long my enemies claim that I said things that I did not say (OR, try to destroy what I am doing); they are always thinking of ways to harm me.
6 They stir up strife—they lie hid, They, mark my steps, —Seeing they have waited for my life.
In order to cause trouble for me, they hide and watch everything that I do, waiting for [an opportunity] to kill me [MTY].
7 Because of iniquity, recompense thou them, —In anger, bring thou down, the peoples, O God.
So, God, punish them for the wicked things that they are doing; show that you are angry by defeating those people!
8 My wandering, hast, thou, recorded, —Put thou my tears in thy bottle, Are they not in thy record?
You have counted [all] the times that I have been wandering alone/distressed; [it is as though] you have put [all] my tears in a bottle [in order that you can see how much I have cried]. [You have counted my tears and written] the number in your book.
9 Then, shall my foes turn back, in the day I cry, This, I know, for God is mine!
When I call out to you, [my] God, my enemies will be defeated; I know that will happen, because you are fighting for me.
10 In God, will I praise with good cause: In Yahweh, will I praise with good cause;
I praise/thank you that you do what you have promised; Yahweh, I [will always] praise you for that [DOU].
11 In God, have I trusted, I will not fear, What can a son of earth do unto me!
I trust in you, and as a result, I will not be afraid. I know that humans cannot really [RHQ] harm me!
12 Upon me, O God, are thy vows, I will pay back praises unto thee.
I will bring to you the offering that I promised; I will bring an offering to you to thank you,
13 For thou hast rescued my soul from death, Wilt thou not [rescue] my feet from stumbling? That I may walk to and fro, before God, In the light of life.
because you have rescued me from being killed; you have kept me from stumbling. As a result, I will continue to live in your presence in the light that [shines on those who are still] alive (OR, in the light that [enables people to] live).