For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Silent Dove in Distant Lands." A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56:1 Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up.

All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.

56:2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long,

for they are many who fight proudly against me.

56:3 When I am afraid,

I will put my trust in you.

56:4 In God, I praise his word.

In God, I put my trust.

I will not be afraid.

What can flesh do to me?

56:5 All day long they twist my words.

All their thoughts are against me for evil.

56:6 They conspire and lurk,

watching my steps, they are eager to take my life.

56:7 Shall they escape by iniquity?

In anger cast down the peoples, God.

56:8 You number my wanderings.

You put my tears into your bottle.

Aren't they in your book?

56:9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call.

I know this, that God is for me.

56:10 In God, I will praise his word.

In Yahweh, I will praise his word.

56:11 I have put my trust in God.

I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

56:12 Your vows are on me, God.

I will give thank offerings to you.

56:13 For you have delivered my soul from death,

and prevented my feet from falling,

that I may walk before God in the light of the living.