FBV PSA Chapter 56

For the music director. According to “Dove on Distant Oaks.” A psalm (miktam) of David concerning the time the Philistines captured him in Gath.

56 God, please be gracious to me, for people are persecuting me; my attackers fight against me all day long.

2 My enemies chase me down all the time—there are many of them, attacking me in their arrogance.[fn]

3 But when I'm afraid, I trust in you.

4 I thank God for his promises. I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings[fn] do to me?

5 They constantly twist my words against me; they spend all their time thinking of evil things to do to me.

6 They gather together in their hiding places to keep watch on me, hoping to kill me.

7 Will they escape when they do so much evil? God, in anger bring these people down!

8 You've kept track of all my wanderings. You've collected all my tears in your bottle.[fn] You've kept a record of each one.

9 Then those who hate me will run away when I call for your help. For I know this: God is for me!

10 I thank God for his promises. I thank the Lord for his promises.

11 I trust in God, so why should I be fearful? What can mere human beings do to me?

12 God, I will keep my promises to you. I will give thank offerings to you,

13 for you have saved me from death and kept me from falling. Now I walk in the presence of God, in the light that gives life.

56:2 The word used here means “height” and it is thought this refers to superiority or arrogance.

56:4 Literally, “flesh.”

56:8 To record the extent of the psalmist's sorrow.