Psalm 56:1–6

Title For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

for in you I take refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until the disaster has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High,

to God, who vindicates me.

3 He sends from heaven and saves me,

rebuking those who hotly pursue me—

God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

4 I am in the midst of lions;

I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.

Title To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,

for in you my soul takes refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

till the storms of destruction pass by.

2 I cry out to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

3 He will send from heaven and save me;

he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;

I lie down amid fiery beasts—

the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

Title To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.

1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me:

For my soul trusteth in thee:

Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge,

Until these calamities be overpast.

2 I will cry unto God most high;

Unto God that performeth all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven, and save me

From the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah.

God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

4 My soul is among lions:

And I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men,

Whose teeth are spears and arrows,

And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let thy glory be above all the earth.

Title For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time he fled from Saul and went into the cave. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”

1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!

I look to you for protection.

I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings

until the danger passes by.

2 I cry out to God Most High,

to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.

3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me,

disgracing those who hound me.

Interlude

My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

4 I am surrounded by fierce lions

who greedily devour human prey—

whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,

and whose tongues cut like swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!

May your glory shine over all the earth.

Title To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David When He Fled from Saul into the Cave.

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!

For my soul trusts in You;

And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,

Until these calamities have passed by.

2 I will cry out to God Most High,

To God who performs all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven and save me;

He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.

Selah

God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

4 My soul is among lions;

I lie among the sons of men

Who are set on fire,

Whose teeth are spears and arrows,

And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Title For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam of David when he escaped from Saul in the cave.

1 Be merciful to me, God; be merciful to me

because I come to you for protection.

Let me hide under the shadow of your wings

until the trouble has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High,

to the God who does everything for me.

3 He sends help from heaven and saves me.

He punishes those who chase me.

Selah

God sends me his love and truth.

4 Enemies, like lions, are all around me;

I must lie down among them.

Their teeth are like spears and arrows,

their tongues as sharp as swords.

5 God is supreme over the skies;

his majesty covers the earth.

Title For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me;

For my soul taketh refuge in thee:

Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge,

Until these calamities be overpast.

2 I will cry unto God Most High,

Unto God that performeth all things for me.

3 He will send from heaven, and save me,

When he that would swallow me up reproacheth; Selah

God will send forth his lovingkindness and his truth.

4 My soul is among lions;

I lie among them that are set on fire,

Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,

And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let thy glory be above all the earth.

Title To the chief Musician. ‘Destroy not.’ Of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul in the cave.

1 Be gracious unto me, O God, be gracious unto me; for my soul taketh refuge in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings do I take refuge, until the calamities be overpast. 2 I will call unto God, the Most High; unto •God that performeth all for me. 3 He will send from the heavens and save me; he hath covered with reproach him that would swallow me up. Selah. God hath sent forth his loving-kindness and his truth. 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down among them that breathe out flames, the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let thy glory be above all the earth!

Title For the choir director; al tashcheth;a miktam by David when he fled from Saul into the cave. 

1 Have pity on me, O God. Have pity on me, 

because my soul takes refuge in you. 

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings 

until destructive storms pass by. 

2 I call to God Most High, 

to the God who does everything for me. 

3 He sends his help from heaven and saves me. 

He disgraces the one who is harassing me. 

Selah 

God sends his mercy and his truth! 

4 My soul is surrounded by lions. 

I must lie down with man-eating lions. 

Their teeth are spears and arrows. 

Their tongues are sharp swords. 

5 May you be honored above the heavens, O God. 

Let your glory extend over the whole earth. 

Title For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Davidic Miktam. When he fled before Saul into the cave.

1 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,

for I take refuge in You.

I will seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings

until danger passes.

2 I call to God Most High,

to God who fulfills His purpose for me.

3 He reaches down from heaven and saves me,

challenging the one who tramples me. Selah

God sends His faithful love and truth.

4 I am surrounded by lions;

I lie down with those who devour men.

Their teeth are spears and arrows;

their tongues are sharp swords.

5 God, be exalted above the heavens;

let Your glory be over the whole earth.

Title To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

1 Be merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me,

for in you my soul takes refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

until the destroying storms pass by.

2 I cry to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

3 He will send from heaven and save me;

he will put to shame those who trample on me.   Selah

God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.

4 I lie down among lions

that greedily devour human prey;

their teeth are spears and arrows,

their tongues sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

Let your glory be over all the earth.

Title For the music director, according to Do Not Destroy.

Of David. A miktam.

When he fled from Saul into the cave.

1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,

because in you my soul takes refuge.

In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge

until destruction passes by.

2 I will call to God Most High,

to God who accomplishes things concerning me.

3 He will send from heaven and save me;

he will reproach the one who tramples me. Selah

God will send his loyal love and his faithfulness.

4 My soul is among lions.

I lie down among those who devour—

the children of humankind whose teeth are spears and arrows

and whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God.

Let your glory be above all the earth.

Title For the director of music. A miktam of David when he had run away from Saul into the cave. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.”

1 Show me your favor, God. Show me your favor.

I go to you for safety.

I will find safety in the shadow of your wings.

There I will stay until the danger is gone.

2 I cry out to God Most High.

I cry out to God, and he carries out his plan for me.

3 He answers from heaven and saves me.

He puts to shame those who chase me. Selah

He shows me his love and his truth.

4 Men who are like lions are all around me.

I am lying down among hungry animals.

Their teeth are like spears and arrows.

Their tongues are like sharp swords.

5 God, may you be honored above the heavens.

Let your glory be over the whole earth.

Title For the choir director; set to Mikhtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.

1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,

For my soul takes refuge in You;

And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge

Until destruction passes by.

2 I will cry to God Most High,

To God who accomplishes all things for me.

3 He will send from heaven and save me;

He reproaches him who tramples upon me.

Selah.

God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.

4 My soul is among lions;

I must lie among those who breathe forth fire,

Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows

And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God;

Let Your glory be above all the earth.