Psalm 56

Pleading for Help and Grateful Trust in God.

For the music director; according to [a]Jonath elem rehokim. A [b]Mikhtam of David, [c]when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 Be gracious to me, God, for a man has [d]trampled upon me;
[e]Fighting all day long he oppresses me.
2 My enemies have trampled upon me all day long,
For [f]they are many who fight proudly against me.
3 [g]When I am afraid,
[h]I will put my trust in You.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
What can mere [i]mortals do to me?
5 All day long they distort my words;
All their [j]thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They [k]attack, they lurk,
They watch my [l]steps,
As they have waited to take my [m]life.
7 Because of their wickedness, will there be an escape for them?
In anger make the peoples fall down, God!

8 You have taken account of my [n]miseries;
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back on the day when I call;
This I know, [o]that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
In the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 In God I have put my [p]trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can mankind do to me?
12 Your vows are binding upon me, God;
I will render thanksgiving offerings to You.
13 For You have saved my soul from death,
[q]Indeed my feet from stumbling,
So that I may walk before God
In the light of the [r]living.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56 Title Or The silent dove of those who are far off; or The dove of the distant terebinths
  2. Psalm 56 Title Possibly Epigrammatic Poem; or Atonement Psalm
  3. Psalm 56 Title 1 Sam 21:10, 11
  4. Psalm 56:1 Or snapped at
  5. Psalm 56:1 Or A fighting man
  6. Psalm 56:2 Or many are fighting
  7. Psalm 56:3 Lit The day
  8. Psalm 56:3 Or I am one who puts
  9. Psalm 56:4 Lit flesh
  10. Psalm 56:5 Or purposes
  11. Psalm 56:6 Or stir up strife
  12. Psalm 56:6 Lit heels
  13. Psalm 56:6 Lit soul
  14. Psalm 56:8 Or wanderings
  15. Psalm 56:9 Or because
  16. Psalm 56:11 Or trust without fear
  17. Psalm 56:13 Or Have You not delivered
  18. Psalm 56:13 Or life