Psalms 56
The psalmist declares that when he is afraid he will trust in God, and in God he will not fear what flesh can do to him. His enemies twist his words and watch his steps, but God records his tears in a bottle. He will walk before God in the light of the living.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. | Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. |
| 2 | Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. | My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. |
| 3 | What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. | When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. |
| 4 | In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. | In God I will praise His word; in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me. |
| 5 | Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. | All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin. |
| 6 | They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. | They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life. |
| 7 | Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God. | Because of their wickedness do not let them escape; in Your anger, God, bring the nations down. |
| 8 | Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? | Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll — are they not in your record? |
| 9 | When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. | Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. |
| 10 | In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. | In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise — |
| 11 | In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. | in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me? |
| 12 | Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. | I am under vows to You, my God; I will present my thank offerings to You. |
| 13 | For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? | For You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. |