Open English Translation PSA Chapter 56

56 For the musical director: a song[fn] by David, written when the Philistines captured him at Gat.[ref] To be sung to the tune of “A dove on distant oak trees”.

56 Be merciful to me, God, because men are attacking me.

Those who fight me press their assault all day long.

2 My enemies trample me all day long,

because there are many who proudly fight against me.

3 Any time I’m afraid, I’ll put my trust in you— 4 in God, whose message I praise.

≈I’ve put my trust in God—I won’t be afraid of what people can do to me?

5 All day long they twist my words.

They’re always thinking about how to harm me.

6 They conspire then lie hidden—watching my steps

as they just wait for the opportunity to take my life.

7 Don’t let them escape when they’ve done evil things.

In your anger, God, bring down those people groups.

8 You keep track of my wanderings

and put my tears into your bottle.

Aren’t they recorded in your book?

9 Then my enemies will pull back when call out to you for help.

I know that because God is for me.

10 In God—whose message I praise,

in Yahweh—whose message I praise,

11 in God I trust.

I’m not scared—what can anyone do to me?

12 The duty to fulfill my promises to you is on me, God.

I’ll give thank-offerings to you

13 because you’ve rescued my life from death.

≈You’ve kept me from falling into danger,

so that I can walk in front of God in the light of the living.