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

¹Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me;

he fights and oppresses me all day long.

²My adversaries trample me all day,

for many arrogantly fight against me. ^b,^c

³When I am afraid,

I will trust in you. ^d

⁴In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me? ^e

⁵They twist my words all day long;

all their thoughts against me are evil. ^f

⁶They stir up strife, ^g they lurk,

they watch my steps

while they wait to take my life. ^h

⁷Will they escape in spite of such sin?

God, bring down the nations in wrath. ⁱ

⁸You yourself have recorded my wanderings. ^j

Put my tears in your bottle.

Are they not in your book? ^k

⁹Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. ^l

This I know: God is for me. ^m

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord, whose word I praise,

¹¹in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

What can mere humans do to me? ⁿ

¹²I am obligated by vows ^o to you, God;

I will make my thanksgiving sacrifices to you. ^p

¹³For you rescued me from death,

even my feet from stumbling,

to walk before God in the light of life. ^q