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Psalm 56-57
American Standard Version

Supplication for deliverance, and grateful trust in God.

For the Chief Musician; set to [a]Jonath elem rehokim. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath.

56 Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up:
All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.
2 [b]Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long;
For they are many that fight proudly against me.
3 What time I am afraid,
I will put my trust in thee.
4 In God (I will praise his word),
In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid;
What can flesh do unto me?
5 All the day long they wrest my words:
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves,
They mark my steps,
[c]Even as they have waited for my soul.
7 [d]Shall they escape by iniquity?
In anger cast down the peoples, O God.
8 Thou numberest my wanderings:
Put thou my tears into thy bottle;
Are they not in thy [e]book?
9 Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call:
This I know, [f]that God is for me.
10 In God (I will praise his word),
In Jehovah (I will praise his word),
11 In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid;
What can man do unto me?
12 Thy vows are upon me, O God:
I will render thank-offerings unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death:
Hast thou not delivered my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of [g]the living?

Prayer for rescue from persecutors.

For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

57 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me;
For my soul taketh refuge in thee:
Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge,
Until these [h]calamities be overpast.
2 I will cry unto God Most High,
Unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 He will send from heaven, and save me,
When he that would swallow me up reproacheth; Selah
God will send forth his lovingkindness and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions;
I [i]lie among them that are set on fire,
Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let thy glory be above all the earth.

6 They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down:
They have digged a pit before me;
They are fallen into the midst thereof themselves. Selah
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.
8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp:
I myself [j]will awake right early.
9 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples:
I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens,
And thy truth unto the skies.
11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let thy glory be above all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56:1 That is, The silent dove of them that are afar off. Or, as otherwise read, The dove of the distant terebinths.
  2. Psalm 56:2 Or, They that lie in wait for me
  3. Psalm 56:6 Or, Inasmuch as
  4. Psalm 56:7 Or, They think to escape
  5. Psalm 56:8 Or, record
  6. Psalm 56:9 Or, for
  7. Psalm 56:13 Or, life
  8. Psalm 57:1 Or, wickednesses
  9. Psalm 57:4 Or, must lie
  10. Psalm 57:8 Or, will awake the dawn
Listen to Psalm 56-57
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Psalm 56-57
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.

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

3 When 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)

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

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

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

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

Psalm 57[e](Y)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[f] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(Z)

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.(AA)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(AB)
    until the disaster has passed.(AC)

2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(AD)
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,(AE)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[g](AF)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(AG)

4 I am in the midst of lions;(AH)
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.(AI)

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.(AJ)

6 They spread a net for my feet(AK)—
    I was bowed down(AL) in distress.
They dug a pit(AM) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.(AN)

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;(AO)
    I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!(AP)
    I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(AQ)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(AR)
    let your glory be over all the earth.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
  2. Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
  4. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
  5. Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
  6. Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  7. Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
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