Psalm 56
A Call for God’s Protection
For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A Miktam of David. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.(A)
1 Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me;
he fights and oppresses me all day long.
2 My adversaries trample me all day,
for many arrogantly fight against me.[a](B)
3 When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.(C)
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?(D)
5 They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil.(E)
6 They stir up strife,[b] they lurk,
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.(F)
7 Will they escape in spite of such sin?
God, bring down the nations in wrath.(G)
8 You yourself have recorded my wanderings.[c]
Put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?(H)
9 Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.(I)
This I know: God is for me.(J)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere humans do to me?(K)
12 I am obligated by vows[d] to you, God;
I will make my thanksgiving sacrifices to you.(L)
13 For you rescued me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life.(M)
Footnotes
- 56:2 Or many fight against me, O exalted one, or many fight against me from the heights
- 56:6 Or They attack
- 56:8 Or misery
- 56:12 Lit On me the vows
Cross references
- 56:0 : 1Sm 21:10–11; 22:1
- 56:1–2 : Ps 35:1; 57:3
- 56:3 : Ps 112:7; Pr 29:25; Is 12:2
- 56:4 : Ps 27:1; 118:6; Mt 10:28; Heb 13:6
- 56:5 : Ps 41:7; 2Pt 3:16
- 56:6 : Ps 10:8–10; 59:3
- 56:7 : Ezk 17:15; Rm 2:3
- 56:8 : 2Kg 20:5; Ps 139:3; Mal 3:16
- 56:9 : Ps 9:3
- 56:9 : Ps 118:6; Rm 8:31
- 56:10–11 : Ps 112:7; Pr 29:25; Is 12:2
- 56:12 : Ps 50:14
- 56:13 : Jb 33:30; Ps 116:8–9