Psalm 56

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.