Psalm 56

Trusting God for Help

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Dove in the Distant Oak.” A miktam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

56God, be merciful to me because people are chasing me;

the battle has pressed me all day long.

²My enemies have chased me all day;

there are many proud people fighting me.

³When I am afraid,

I will trust you.

⁴I praise God for his word.

I trust God, so I am not afraid.

What can human beings do to me?

⁵All day long they twist my words;

all their evil plans are against me.

⁶They wait. They hide.

They watch my steps,

hoping to kill me.

⁷God, do not let them escape;

punish the foreign nations in your anger.

⁸You have recorded my troubles.

You have kept a list of my tears.

Aren’t they in your records?

⁹On the day I call for help, my enemies will be defeated.

I know that God is on my side.

¹⁰I praise God for his word to me;

I praise the Lord for his word.

¹¹I trust in God. I will not be afraid.

What can people do to me?

¹²God, I must keep my promises to you.

I will give you my offerings to thank you,

¹³because you have saved me from death.

You have kept me from being defeated.

So I will walk with God

in light among the living.