Psalm 56

Complete Jewish Bible

56 ⁽⁰⁾For the leader. Set to “The Silent Dove in the Distance.” By David; a mikhtam, when the P’lishtim captured him in Gat:

²⁽¹⁾Show me favor, God;
for people are trampling me down —
all day they fight and press on me.
³⁽²⁾Those who are lying in wait for me
would trample on me all day.
For those fighting against me are many.

Most High, ⁴⁽³⁾when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
⁵⁽⁴⁾In God — I praise his word —
in God I trust; I have no fear;
what can human power do to me?
⁶⁽⁵⁾All day long they twist my words;
their only thought is to harm me.
⁷⁽⁶⁾They gather together and hide themselves,
spying on my movements, hoping to kill me.
⁸⁽⁷⁾Because of their crime, they cannot escape;
in anger, God, strike down the peoples.
⁹⁽⁸⁾You have kept count of my wanderings;
store my tears in your water-skin —
aren’t they already recorded in your book?
¹⁰⁽⁹⁾Then my enemies will turn back
on the day when I call;
this I know: that God is for me.

¹¹⁽¹⁰⁾In God — I praise his word —
in Adonai — I praise his word —
¹²⁽¹¹⁾in God I trust; I have no fear;
what can mere humans do to me?

¹³⁽¹²⁾God, I have made vows to you;
I will fulfill them with thank offerings to you.
¹⁴⁽¹³⁾For you rescued me from death,
you kept my feet from stumbling,
so that I can walk in God’s presence,
in the light of life.

Psalm 56

New International Version

Psalm 56^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

¹Be merciful to me,^(A) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;^(B)
    all day long they press their attack.^(C)
²My adversaries pursue me all day long;^(D)
    in their pride many are attacking me.^(E)

³When I am afraid,^(F) I put my trust in you.^(G)
⁴ In God, whose word I praise—^(H)
in God I trust and am not afraid.^(I)
What can mere mortals do to me?^(J)

⁵All day long they twist my words;^(K)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
⁶They conspire,^(L) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,^(M)
    hoping to take my life.^(N)
⁷Because of their wickedness do not^[c] let them escape;^(O)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.^(P)

⁸Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll^[d]^(Q)—
    are they not in your record?^(R)
⁹Then my enemies will turn back^(S)
    when I call for help.^(T)
    By this I will know that God is for me.^(U)

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
¹¹in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?

¹²I am under vows^(V) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
¹³For you have delivered me from death^(W)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.^(X)

Footnotes

Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 56

Complete Jewish Bible

Psalm 56

New International Version

Psalm 56^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 56 Complete Jewish Bible

Psalm 56 New International Version

Psalm 56[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 56

Complete Jewish Bible

Psalm 56

New International Version

Psalm 56^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.