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:

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 adversaries have panted all the day, For, many, are fighting with me, loftily.

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

3 What day I am afraid, I, unto thee will direct my confidence.

When I am afraid, I will put my 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?

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, all their devices are for mischief;

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

6 They stir up strife—they lie hid, They, mark my steps, —Seeing they have waited for my life.

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

7 Because of iniquity, recompense thou them, —In anger, bring thou down, the peoples, O God.

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

8 My wandering, hast, thou, recorded, —Put thou my tears in thy bottle, Are they not in thy record?

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

9 Then, shall my foes turn back, in the day I cry, This, I know, for God is mine!

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 with good cause: In Yahweh, will I praise with good cause;

In God, I will praise his word. In the LORD, I will praise his word.

11 In God, have I trusted, I will not fear, What can a son of earth 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, are thy vows, I will pay back praises unto thee.

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

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.