Psalms 56

Psalm 56¹

For the music director; according to the yonath-elem-rechovim style;² a prayer³ of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath.⁴

56:1 Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me!⁵

All day long hostile enemies⁶ are tormenting me.⁷

56:2 Those who anticipate my defeat⁸ attack me all day long.

Indeed,⁹ many are fighting against me, O Exalted One.¹⁰

56:3 When¹¹ I am afraid,

I trust in you.

56:4 In God – I boast in his promise¹² –

in God I trust, I am not afraid.

What can mere men¹³ do to me?¹⁴

56:5 All day long they cause me trouble;¹⁵

they make a habit of plotting my demise.¹⁶

56:6 They stalk¹⁷ and lurk;¹⁸

they watch my every step,¹⁹

as²⁰ they prepare to take my life.²¹

56:7 Because they are bent on violence, do not let them escape!²²

In your anger²³ bring down the nations,²⁴ O God!

56:8 You keep track of my misery.²⁵

Put my tears in your leather container!²⁶

Are they not recorded in your scroll?²⁷

56:9 My enemies will turn back when I cry out to you for help;²⁸

I know that God is on my side.²⁹

56:10 In God – I boast in his promise³⁰ –

in the Lord – I boast in his promise³¹ –

56:11 in God I trust, I am not afraid.

What can mere men³² do to me?³³

56:12 I am obligated to fulfill the vows I made to you, O God;³⁴

I will give you the thank-offerings you deserve,³⁵

56:13 when you deliver³⁶ my life from death.

You keep my feet from stumbling,³⁷

so that I might serve³⁸ God as I enjoy life.³⁹

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