Psalms 56
1 For the chief musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A psalm of David. A michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for men are attacking me! All the day long those who fight me press their assault.
God, be merciful to me because men have harassed me; all day my enemies pursue me.
2 My enemies trample me all day long; for there are many who arrogantly fight against me.
My enemies harass me all day long; there are many of them who proudly attack me.
3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
But whenever I am afraid, I trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise— in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid; what can mere man do to 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 long they twist my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.
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 gather themselves together, they hide themselves, and they mark my steps, just as 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 Do not let them escape doing iniquity. Bring down the peoples in your anger, God.
So, God, punish them for the wicked things that they are doing; show that you are angry by defeating those people!
8 You number my wanderings and put my tears into your bottle; are they not in your book?
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 my enemies will turn back on the day that I call to you; this I know, that God is for me.
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—whose word I praise, in Yahweh—whose word I praise,
I praise/thank you that you do what you have promised; Yahweh, I [will always] praise you for that [DOU].
11 in God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?
I trust in you, and as a result, I will not be afraid. I know that humans cannot really [RHQ] harm me!
12 The duty to fulfill my vows to you is on me, God; I will give thank offerings to you.
I will bring to you the offering that I promised; I will bring an offering to you to thank you,
13 For you have rescued my life from death; you have kept my feet from falling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
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).
