Psalm 56–57

A David Psalm, When He Was Captured by the Philistines in Gath

^1–456Take my side, God—I’m getting kicked around,

stomped on every day.

Not a day goes by

but somebody beats me up;

They make it their duty

to beat me up.

When I get really afraid

I come to you in trust.

I’m proud to praise God;

fearless now, I trust in God.

What can mere mortals do?

^5–6They don’t let up—

they smear my reputation

and huddle to plot my collapse.

They gang up,

sneak together through the alleys

To take me by surprise,

wait their chance to get me.

⁷Pay them back in evil!

Get angry, God!

Down with these people!

⁸You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn

through the sleepless nights,

Each tear entered in your ledger,

each ache written in your book.

⁹If my enemies run away,

turn tail when I yell at them,

Then I’ll know

that God is on my side.

^10–11I’m proud to praise God,

proud to praise God.

Fearless now, I trust in God;

what can mere mortals do to me?

^12–13God, you did everything you promised,

and I’m thanking you with all my heart.

You pulled me from the brink of death,

my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.

Now I stroll at leisure with God

in the sunlit fields of life.

A David Psalm, When He Hid in a Cave from Saul

^1–357Be good to me, God—and now!

I’ve run to you for dear life.

I’m hiding out under your wings

until the hurricane blows over.

I call out to High God,

the God who holds me together.

He sends orders from heaven and saves me,

he humiliates those who kick me around.

God delivers generous love,

he makes good on his word.

⁴I find myself in a pride of lions

who are wild for a taste of human flesh;

Their teeth are lances and arrows,

their tongues are sharp daggers.

⁵Soar high in the skies, O God!

Cover the whole earth with your glory!

⁶They booby-trapped my path;

I thought I was dead and done for.

They dug a man-trap to catch me,

and fell in headlong themselves.

^7–8I’m ready, God, so ready,

ready from head to toe,

Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune:

“Wake up, soul!

Wake up, harp! wake up, lute!

Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!”

^9–10I’m thanking you, God, out loud in the streets,

singing your praises in town and country.

The deeper your love, the higher it goes;

every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.

¹¹Soar high in the skies, O God!

Cover the whole earth with your glory!