Psalms 56

1 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.

Be merciful to me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresses me.

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

My enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O you most High.

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

What time I am afraid, I will trust in you.

4 In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me.

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

Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

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

They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

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

Shall they escape by iniquity? in your anger cast down the people, O God.

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

You tell my wanderings: put you my tears into your bottle: are they not in your book?

9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this: that God is for me.

When I cry to you, then shall my enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

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

In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

11 I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do to me.

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

Your vows are on me, O God: I will render praises to you.

13 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.

For you have delivered my soul from death: will not you deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?