Psa 56 | HCSB | STEP | For the choir director : according to “A Silent Dove Far Away .” A Davidic Miktam . When the Philistines seized him in Gath . Be gracious to me, God , for man tramples me; he fights and oppresses me all day long .

Psalms 56

A Call for God’s Protection

1 For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” ^{▼▼Possibly a tune} A Davidic ^{▼▼Miktam: A musical term of uncertain meaning, possibly denoting a plaintive style}Miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath. ^c

Be gracious to me, God, for man tramples me;
he fights and oppresses me all day long.
2 My adversaries trample me all day,
for many arrogantly fight against me. ^{▼▼Or many fight against me, O exalted One, or many fight against me from the heights
,} ^e

3 When I am afraid,
I will trust in You. ^f
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me? ^g

5 They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil. ^h
6 They stir up strife, ^{▼▼Or They attack} they lurk;
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life. ^j
7 Will they escape in spite of such sin?
God, bring down the nations in wrath. ^k

8 You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. ^{▼▼Or misery}
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your records? ^m
9 Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. ⁿ
This I know: God is for me. ^o

10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me? ^p

12 I am obligated by vows ^{▼▼Lit On me the vows} to You, God;
I will make my thank offerings to You. ^r
13 For You delivered me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life. ^s