Psalms 56 WEB
Summary: Headed "when the Philistines seized him in Gath" (recalling David's dangerous flight to Achish in 1 Samuel 21), Psalm 56 is a lament of a man surrounded and slandered by enemies who "twist my words" and watch his steps (v. 5-6). Its refrain turns fear into resolve, "in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" (v. 4, 11), repeated with slight variation across the psalm's two halves. It closes noting that God keeps a record of the psalmist's tossings and collects his tears "in your bottle" (v. 8), before a vow of thanksgiving.
1Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.
2My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.
3When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
4In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
5All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.
6They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.
7Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.
8You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren’t they in your book?
9Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this: that God is for me.
10In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word.
11I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
12Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.
13For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
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