Psalms 56

1 God, be merciful to me because men have harassed me; all day my enemies pursue 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 harass me all day long; there are many of them who proudly attack me.

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

3 But whenever I am afraid, I trust in you.

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

4 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!

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 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.

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

6 In order to cause trouble for me, they hide and watch everything that I do, waiting for [an opportunity] to kill me [MTY].

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

7 So, God, punish them for the wicked things that they are doing; show that you are angry by defeating those people!

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

8 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.

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

9 When I call out to you, [my] God, my enemies will be defeated; I know that will happen, because you are fighting for me.

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

10 I praise/thank you that you do what you have promised; Yahweh, I [will always] praise you for that [DOU].

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

11 I trust in you, and as a result, I will not be afraid. I know that humans cannot really [RHQ] harm me!

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

12 I will bring to you the offering that I promised; I will bring an offering to you to thank you,

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

13 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).

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