Psalm 56–57

Psalm 56

A Call for God’s Protection

For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” ⁱA Davidic Miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath. ^j

¹Be gracious to me, God, for man tramples me;

he fights and oppresses me all day long.

²My adversaries trample me all day,

for many arrogantly fight against me. ^kl

³When I am afraid,

I will trust in You. ^m

⁴In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I will not fear.

What can man do to me? ⁿ

⁵They twist my words all day long;

all their thoughts against me are evil. ^o

⁶They stir up strife, ^pthey lurk;

they watch my steps

while they wait to take my life. ^q

⁷Will they escape in spite of such sin?

God, bring down the nations in wrath. ^r

⁸You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. ^s

Put my tears in Your bottle.

Are they not in Your records? ^t

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

This I know: God is for me. ^v

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord, whose word I praise,

¹¹in God I trust; I will not fear.

What can man do to me? ^w

¹²I am obligated by vows ^xto You, God;

I will make my thank offerings to You. ^y

¹³For You delivered me from death,

even my feet from stumbling,

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

Psalm 57

Praise for God’s Protection

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

¹Be 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. ^c

²I call to God Most High,

to God who fulfills His purpose for me. ^de

³He reaches down from heaven and saves me,

challenging the one who tramples me. ^fSelah

God sends His faithful love and truth. ^g

⁴I am surrounded by lions;

I lie down with those who devour men.

Their teeth are spears and arrows;

their tongues are sharp swords. ^h

⁵God, be exalted above the heavens;

let Your glory be over the whole earth. ⁱ

⁶They prepared a net for my steps;

I was despondent.

They dug a pit ahead of me,

but they fell into it! ^jSelah

⁷My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.

I will sing; I will sing praises. ^k

⁸Wake up, my soul! ^l

Wake up, harp and lyre!

I will wake up the dawn. ^m

⁹I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to You among the nations. ⁿ

¹⁰For Your faithful love is as high as the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches the clouds. ^o

¹¹God, be exalted above the heavens; ^p

let Your glory be over the whole earth. ^q