Songs (Psalms) 56:1–13 — The praying due trusting of God

The OET Readers’ Version is designed to be read alongside the Literal Version. Expand the matching Literal Version beneath each passage. This is still an early look into the drafted text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

The praying due trusting of God

Psa 56:1–13

56:1 The praying due trusting of God

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

1 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.

Show matching OET Literal Version passage

Read the Literal Version in context

56 To_choirmaster on yonath-_of elem- rechokim of_Dāvid a _miktam when_ the_Pəlishtiy _seized DOM_him/it in_Gath.

2 [fn] Show_favour _to _me Oh _god if/because he_has _trampled _on _me man all _of the_day one _who_fights he_oppresses _me.

3 [fn] Enemies _of_my they _have _trampled _on_me all _of the_day if/because many_people are_fighting to_me height.

4 [fn] A _day when_I _will _fear I to_you I _will _trust.

5 [fn] In_god who_I _praise message _of_his in_god I _have _trusted not I _am _afraid what flesh will _it _do to_me.

6 [fn] All _of the_day words/messages _of_my they _twist are_on_me all _of plans _of_their for_evil.

7 [fn] They _stir _up _trouble they _lie _hidden[fn] they heels _of_my they _watch _for just_as they _have _waited _for life _of_my.

8 [fn] On wickedness deliver (to)_them in_anger peoples bring _down Oh _god.

9 [fn] Wandering _of_my you _have _taken _account _of you put tear[s]_of_my in_skin-bottle _of_your not is_it_of_in _your _scroll.

10 [fn] Then enemies _of_my they _will _turn _back backwards in/on_day when_I _will _call _out this I _know if/because _that god to_me.

11 [fn] In_god who_I _praise a _message in_YHWH who_I _praise a _message.

12 [fn] In_god I _have _trusted not I _am _afraid what anyone will _he _do to_me.

13 [fn] Are_on_me Oh _god vows _of_your I _will _pay thank-offerings to/for_you(fs).

14 [fn] If/because you _have _delivered life _of_my from_death not feet _of_my from_stumbling to_go _about to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before god in_the _light _of (the)_life.

56:2 Note: KJB: Ps.56.1

56:3 Note: KJB: Ps.56.2

56:4 Note: KJB: Ps.56.3

56:5 Note: KJB: Ps.56.4

56:6 Note: KJB: Ps.56.5

56:7 Note: KJB: Ps.56.6

56:7 OSHB variant note: יצפינו: (x-qere) ’יִצְפּ֗וֹנוּ’: lemma=6845 n=1.1 morph=HVqi3mp id=19Djm יִצְפּ֗וֹנוּ

56:8 Note: KJB: Ps.56.7

56:9 Note: KJB: Ps.56.8

56:10 Note: KJB: Ps.56.9

56:11 Note: KJB: Ps.56.10

56:12 Note: KJB: Ps.56.11

56:13 Note: KJB: Ps.56.12

56:14 Note: KJB: Ps.56.13

56:0 In Hebrew, ‘miktam’ is perhaps the name of this class of song.

56:0: 1Sam 21:11-15.

Collected OET-RV cross-references

1Sam 21:11-15:

11 But Akish’s servants complained to him, “Isn’t that David who’ll become king of Yisrael (Israel)? Isn’t he the one they sing about when they dance, chanting, ‘Sha’ul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?’ ”[ref]

12 David listened to those words without any reaction because he was very afraid of what King Akish might do,[ref] 13 so he changed his behaviour when he was with them and pretended to be insane.[ref] He scratched on wooden doors and let his saliva dribble down his beard. 14 Then King Akish complained to his servants, “Look, that man’s insane. Why did you all bring him to me? 15 Don’t I already have enough madmen around here—why add another? Must that man come into my house?”