Psalms 56

1 `In Ebreu thus, To the ouercomyng on the doumb culuer of fer drawing awei, the comely song of Dauid, whanne Filisteis helden hym in Geth. `In Jeroms translacioun thus, To the ouercomer for the doumb culuer, for it yede awei fer. Dauid meke and symple made this salm, whanne Palesteyns helden hym in Geth. God, haue thou merci on me, for a man hath defoulid me; al dai he impugnyde, and troublide me.

For the music director. According to “Dove on Distant Oaks.” A psalm (miktam) of David concerning the time the Philistines captured him in Gath. God, please be gracious to me, for people are persecuting me; my attackers fight against me all day long.

2 Myn enemyes defouliden me al dai; for manye fiyteris weren ayens me.

My enemies chase me down all the time—there are many of them, attacking me in their arrogance.

3 Of the hiynesse of dai Y schal drede; but God Y schal hope in thee.

But when I'm afraid, I trust in you.

4 In God Y schal preise my wordis; Y hopide in God, Y schal not drede what thing fleisch schal do to me.

I thank God for his promises. I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

5 Al dai thei cursiden my wordis; ayens me alle her thouytis weren in to yuel.

They constantly twist my words against me; they spend all their time thinking of evil things to do to me.

6 Thei schulen dwelle, and schulen hide; thei schulen aspie myn heele.

They gather together in their hiding places to keep watch on me, hoping to kill me.

7 As thei abiden my lijf, for nouyt schalt thou make hem saaf; in ire thou schalt breke togidre puplis.

Will they escape when they do so much evil? God, in anger bring these people down!

8 God, Y schewide my lijf to thee; thou hast set my teeris in thi siyt. As and in thi biheest, Lord;

You've kept track of all my wanderings. You've collected all my tears in your bottle. You've kept a record of each one.

9 thanne myn enemyes schulen be turned abak. In what euere dai Y schal inwardli clepe thee; lo! Y haue knowe, that thou art my God.

Then those who hate me will run away when I call for your help. For I know this: God is for me!

10 In God Y schal preise a word; in the Lord Y schal preyse a word.

I thank God for his promises. I thank the Lord for his promises.

11 Y schal hope in God; Y schal not drede what thing a man schal do to me.

I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

12 God, thin auowis ben in me; whiche Y schal yelde heriyngis to thee.

God, I will keep my promises to you. I will give thank offerings to you,

13 For thou hast delyuerid my lijf fro deth, and my feet fro slidyng; that Y pleese bifore God in the liyt of hem that lyuen.

for you have saved me from death and kept me from falling. Now I walk in the presence of God, in the light that gives life.